recusative

R1E1C3U1S1A1T1I1V4E1
/ɹɪˈkjuːzətɪv/

adjective

Refusing; denying; rejecting of the norm.

Scrabble 15

Meanings

adjectiverecusative (comparative more recusative, superlative most recusative)

comparative more recusative · superlative most recusative

  1. obsoleterareRefusing; denying; rejecting of the norm.

    it is acquisitive and effective , or recusative and destructive , otherwise than it is in any other faculties

    1660, Jeremy Taylor, Ductor Dubitantium, or the Rule of Conscience in All Her General Measures; […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] James Flesher, for Richard Royston […], →OCLC
    3 more examples

    For many years, scholars have concentrated espcially on the "recusative” function of medieval marvels, especially of gargoyles and other grotesques—that is, their signification as demonic or morally reprehensible—which, as Williams notes, may be the easiest signification of the monstrous to comprehend or to describe:.

    2004, Erika E. Hess, Literary Hybrids

    On Tír, it was only the recusative priests who painted their faces —they painted them black, along with the palms of their hands

    2014, Frank P. Ryan, The Sword of Feimhin

    As we move from Montagu's own theorization of translation to her complex recusative acts of allusion and finally to her Virgilian allegories, we can track two coextensive performances .

    2019, Daniel O'Quinn, Engaging the Ottoman Empire: Vexed Mediations, 1690-1815, page 166
  2. human sciencesIncluding the word 'not' (or its equivalent).

    In recusative negation the negative element is separable from the rest of the utterance which can act as an autonomous non-negative utterance.

    2008, Matti Miestamo, Standard Negation
    2 more examples

    A sentence which is negative (in meaning) is not always recusative (containing the word 'not'), and vice versa: a propositive syntagm need not always be positive.

    1972, Niels Danielsen, Die Frage: Eine sprachwissenschaftliche Untersuchung

    Exceptions are found in some Central/North Dravidian languages which developed a recusative type of negation under the influence of Indo-Aryan/Iranian languages.

    2010, Jan Wohlgemuth, Michael Cysouw, Rara & Rarissima, page 301

Origin

  1. Late Latinrecūsātīvus“prohibitory”
  2. Englishrecusative

From the Late Latin recūsātīvus (“prohibitory”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

recusative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/recusative

MLA

“recusative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/recusative. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “recusative,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/recusative.

Source: recusative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.