Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Costive
Cos′tive
(k?s′t?v)
, Adj.
[OF.
costevé
, p. p. of costever
, F. constiper
, L. constipare
to press closely together, to cram; con-
+ stipare
to press together, cram. See Stipulate
, Stiff
, and cf. Constipate
.] 1.
Retaining fecal matter in the bowels; having too slow a motion of the bowels; constipated.
2.
Reserved; formal; close; cold.
[Obs.]
“A costive brain.” Prior.
“Costive of laughter.” B. Jonson.
You must be frank, but without indiscretion; and close, but without being
costive
. Lord Chesterfield.
3.
Dry and hard; impermeable; unyielding.
[Obs.]
Clay in dry seasons is
costive
, hardening with the sun and wind. Mortimer.
Webster 1828 Edition
Costive
COSTIVE
,Adj.
1.
Literally, crowded, stuffed, as the intestines; hence, bound in body; retaining fecal matter in the bowels, in a hard and dry state; having the excrements obstructed, or the motion of the bowels too slow.2.
Dry and hard; as costive clay. [Not used.]