| v. t. | 1. | (Law) To refuse or reject, as a judge; to challenge that the judge shall not try the cause. |
| v. i. | 1. | To withdraw oneself from serving as a judge or other decision-maker in order to avoid a real or apparent conflict of interest; - often used with the reflexive; |
| Verb | 1. | recuse - disqualify oneself (as a judge, for example) in a particular case |
| 2. | recuse - challenge or except to a judge as being incompetent or interested, in canon and civil law |