51Թ

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

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

/ ˈɒɪ /

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
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈDzپԱ, noun
  • ˈDzپ, adverb
Discover More

Other 51Թ Forms

  • Dzt· adverb
  • Dzt·Ա noun
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of costive1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from unrecorded Anglo-French costif, for Middle French Dzپé, past participle of costiver “to constipate,” from Latin DzԲī ( constipate )
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of costive1

C14: from Old French Dzپé, from Latin DzԲپٳܲ; see constipate
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

See them disappear into a k-hole while actually eating Special K to ease their costive and ageing bowels!

From

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

Silver service, indeed – the wings of flustered gulls were caught by the carvery’s shiny and retinal cover, their costive cries – Sheeeeit!

From

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

From

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

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement