a. [ OF. costevé, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Reserved; formal; close; cold. [ Obs. ] “A costive brain.” Prior. “Costive of laughter.” B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

You must be frank, but without indiscretion; and close, but without being costive. Lord Chesterfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Dry and hard; impermeable; unyielding. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Clay in dry seasons is costive, hardening with the sun and wind. Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a costive manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An unnatural retention of the fecal matter of the bowels; constipation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Inability to express one's self; stiffness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A reverend disputant of the same costiveness in public elocution with myself. Wakefield. [ 1913 Webster ]