COSTIVE

costive. Costive, a. bound in the body, close-binding, hard

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Cos″tive (k?s″t?v), a. [[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. 1. Retaining fecal matter in the bowels; having too slow a motion of the bowels; constipated.
2. 2. Reserved; formal; close; cold. “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. 3. Dry and hard; impermeable; unyielding.
Clay in dry seasons is costive, hardening with the sun and wind. Mortimer.