- recoil
-
I. intransitive verb
Etymology: Middle English reculen, recoilen, from Anglo-French reculer, recuiler, from re- + cul backside — more at culet
Date: 14th century
1.
a. to fall back under pressure
b. to shrink back physically or emotionally
2. to spring back to or as if to a starting point ; rebound
3. obsolete degenerate
Synonyms:
recoil, shrink, flinch, wince, blench, quail mean to draw back in fear or distaste. recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust <recoiled at the suggestion of stealing>. shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice <shrank from the unpleasant truth>. flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution <faced her accusers without flinching>. wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (as a start or recoiling) <winced in pain>. blench implies fainthearted flinching <stood their ground without blenching>. quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear <quailed before the apparition>. II. noun Date: 14th century 1. the act or action of recoiling; especially the kickback of a gun upon firing 2. reaction <the recoil from the rigors of Calvinism — Edmund Wilson>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.