recant

Etymology 1

First attested in 1535, from Latin recantare, present active infinitive of recanto (“to sing back, reecho, sing again, repeat in singing, recant, recall, revoke, charm back or away”), from re- (“back”) + canto (“to chant, to sing”), frequentative of cano.

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To withdraw or repudiate a statement or opinion formerly expressed, especially formally and publicly.
   Convince me that I am wrong, and I will recant.
   But as Mr. Trump denounces what he describes as failures by the Washington establishment on China, Mr. Biden, an avatar of that establishment, is not recanting his past enthusiasm for engagement. 2020-09-06, “Joe Biden’s China Journey”, in New York Times

Etymology 2

From re- + cant.

verb

1. To give a new cant (slant, angle) to something, in particular railway track on a curve.
   Numerous curves, which previously had given no trouble at 75 and 80 m.p.h., were realigned and recanted to adapt them for 90 m.p.h. and more, …. 1941 June, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 263