costive

[kos-tiv, kaw-stiv]

adjective

1. suffering from constipation; constipated.

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

3. Obsolete.,  stingy; tight-fisted.

costive

/ ˈkɒstɪv /

adjective

1. having constipation; constipated

2. sluggish

3. niggardly

Other Word Forms

• costively adverb
• costiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of costive¹

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 ( constipate )

Word History and Origins

Origin of costive¹

C14: from Old French costivé, from Latin constipātus; see _constipate

Example Sentences

See them disappear into a k-hole while actually eating Special K to ease their costive and ageing bowels!

Read more on The Guardian

The second fragment or thesis treats of “disorders of the bowels,” which suggests already that the aphorist is a costive sort, disgorging small verities with considerable effort.

Read more on The New Yorker

Silver service, indeed – the wings of flustered gulls were caught by the carvery’s shiny and retinal cover, their costive cries – Sheeeeit!

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Movies coiled up in other movies have a habit of becoming either costive or cute, but somehow Falardeau avoids the traps.

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His stories are carried along, too, by an exceptionally easygoing and seductive narrative voice, what the costive Henry James described as his acolyte’s enviable “flow.”

Read more on Washington Post