Hypertext Webster Gateway: "costive"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Costive \Cos"tive\ (k?s"t?v), a. [OF. costev['e], 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.] ``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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
costive
adj : retarding evacuation of feces [ant: {laxative}]
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