Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

recuse

recuse (r?*k?z") , transitive verb

[French récuser, or Latin recusare. See Recusant.]

(Law) To refuse or reject, as a judge; to challenge that the judge shall not try the cause. [Obsolete] — Sir K. Digby

recuse (r?*k?z") , intransitive verb

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; as, the judge recused himself due to a financial interest in the matter.