costive Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective retarding evacuation of feces; binding; constipating

WordNet

Cos"tive adjective
Etymology
OF. costev, 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.
Definitions
  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 1913