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

Derived Forms

• ˈcostiveness, noun
• ˈcostively, adverb

Other Words From

• costive·ly adverb
• costive·ness 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!

From 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.

From 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!

From The Guardian

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

From The New Yorker

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.”

From Washington Post