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De - Pt| English Dictionary: costive | by the DICT Development Group |
| 2 results for costive | |
| From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Costive \Cos"tive\ (k?s"t?v), a. [OF. costev[82], 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.] [bd]A costive brain.[b8] --Prior. [bd]Costive of laughter.[b8] --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. | |
