costive

American  

[kos-tiv, kaw-stiv] / ˈkɒs tɪv, ˈkɔ stɪv /

adjective

1. suffering from constipation; constipated.

2. slow in action or in expressing ideas, opinions, etc.

3. Obsolete. stingy; tight-fisted.

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costive British  

/ ˈkɒstɪv /

adjective

1. having constipation; constipated

2. sluggish

3. niggardly

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Other Word Forms

• costively
  adverb
• costiveness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of costive

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from unrecorded Anglo-French costif, for Middle French costivé, past participle of costiver “to constipate,” from Latin constīpāre ( see constipate)

Example Sentences

Ay, Sir, and if at any time Nature be too infirm, and he prove Costive, he has no more to do, but apply a Load-stone ad Anum.

From The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume III by Summers, Montague

If the Patient is full of blood, bleeding is necessary, and if Costive, a Dose of Manna, Senna, or any gentle Laxative, or a Clyster, should be given.

From An Account of the Extraordinary Medicinal Fluid, called Aether. by Turner, Matthew

And where do you think they should land, Mr. Costive? whisper me that.

From A Lecture On Heads As Delivered By Mr. Charles Lee Lewes, To Which Is Added, An Essay On Satire, With Forty-Seven Heads By Nesbit, From Designs By Thurston, 1812 by Thurston, Katherine Cecil

Costive, kos′tiv, adj. having the motion of the bowels too slow: constipated.—adv.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various