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View synonyms for costive

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˈcostiveness, noun
  • ˈcostively, adverb
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Other Words From

  • costive·ly adverb
  • costive·ness noun
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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 )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of costive1

C14: from Old French costivé, from Latin constipātus; see constipate
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Example Sentences

I finds un fine to hunt with, and 'tis not so costive as the others.

The pulse is small, feeble and frequent, and the bowels costive.

I was of a costive, dyspeptic habit, which has been entirely removed.

All these facts have been proved before your Lordships by costive and unwilling witnesses.

As he was costive, pills of aloes and steel were ordered to be taken occasionally.

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