Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To show reluctance or repugnance.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To strive or struggle against something: make resistance; exhibit reluctance.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To strive or struggle against anything; to make resistance; to draw back; to feel or show repugnance or reluctance.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb intransitive, obsolete, used with "at" To be averse to.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin reluctārī : re-, re- + luctārī, to struggle.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Originally from Latin reluctor.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word reluct.

Examples

  • US Army: Arabs, by American standards, are reluct...

    06/14/2007 2007

  • He shewed some reluct-ance to entrust the secrets to my bosom.

    Sir Charles Grandison 2006

  • She was supposed to be easing herself out the door, saying the goodbyes John seemed reluct ant to utter.

    Father Christmas Arnold, Judith 1997

  • He will give you much better information than I am able to; yet I cautiond him not to coulour even to the Life, least you should reluct at the

    Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, 30 June 1783 1993

  • A Mind susceptible of the Feelings of Humanity, an Heart which can be touch'd with Sensibi [li] ty for human Misery and Wretchedness, must reluct and must burn with Resentment and

    Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 July 1774 1963

  • Mississippi, which should resolve to stop in its place, and so reluct against impulses and take advantage of all impediments.

    The Growth of Thought As Affecting the Progress of Society William Withington

  • Those among us who reluct at every human explanation of this panorama of shadows, are only too easily able to "flee away and be at rest" in the bottomless gulf they crave.

    The Complex Vision John Cowper Powys 1917

  • It is especially in connection with the atrocious cruelty of physical pain that our conscience and our tastes -- unless perverted by some premature metaphysical synthesis or by some morbid religious emotion -- reluct at the conception of a "parent" of the universe.

    The Complex Vision John Cowper Powys 1917

  • The easy-going persons who reluct at the idea of a pessimistic Shakespeare should turn the pages of Troilus and

    Visions and Revisions A Book of Literary Devotions John Cowper Powys 1917

  • Sir George’s endeavour for Mr. Donne’s re-admission was by all means to be kept secret: for men do more naturally reluct for errors than submit to put on those blemishes that attend their visible acknowledgment.

    The Life of Dr. Donne. Paras. 1-49 1909

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.