16 August 2017
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.
Origin of costive
Middle English, Anglo-French, Middle French, Latin
1350-1400; Middle English < Anglo-French *costif, for Middle French costivé, past participle of costiver to constipate < Latin constīpāre (see constipate )
Related forms
costively, adverb
costiveness, noun
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for costive
Historical Examples
Anything that tends to make her costive, such as fruits or green vegetables, should be partaken of with discrimination.
Practical Suggestions for Mother and Housewife
Marion Mills Miller
He took no other medicine, except a little rhubarb when costive.
An Account of the Foxglove and some of its Medical Uses
William Withering
Sometimes the patient is costive, and has been so for several days, the dysentery coming on without being preceded by looseness.
An Epitome of Homeopathic Healing Art
B. L. Hill
I finds un fine to hunt with, and ’tis not so costive as the others.
Left on the Labrador
Dillon Wallace
This gruel is proper for children, or persons of a costive habit.
The Cook and Housekeeper’s Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
I was of a costive, dyspeptic habit, which has been entirely removed.
Vegetable Diet: As Sanctioned by Medical Men, and by Experience in All Ages
William Andrus Alcott
The stool may be normal or costive, but is very often diarrhoetic.
Prof. Koch’s Method to Cure Tuberculosis Popularly Treated
Max Birnbaum
A costive reserve on these subjects might have procured me more esteem from some people, but less from myself.
Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
An egg may be taken at this meal by those luxuriously inclined, and if not of a costive habit.
The Allinson Vegetarian Cookery Book
Thomas R. Allinson
To relieve the bowels when costive, take a dose of Nux Vomica at night, and Podophyllin in the morning.
An Epitome of Homeopathic Healing Art
B. L. Hill
Anagram
so evict
covet is
Today’s quote
Information is the resolution of uncertainty.
– Claude Shannon
On this day
16 August 1938 – death of Robert Johnson. American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter. Legend has it that Johnson met the devil at a crossroads and sold his soul in return for fame and fortune. One of the first musicians of the 20th century to join the 27 club. Born 8 May 1911.
16 August 1958 – birth of Madonna, American pop star, (born Madonna Louise Ciccone). The Guinness Book of World Records lists her as the biggest selling female recording artist of all time, with over 300 million records sold world-wide.
16 August 1962 – Ringo Starr becomes the new drummer for the Beatles, taking over from Peter Best who was sacked by the band. Ringo went on to fame and fortune, Best became a career public servant for 20 years, before forming the Peter Best Band.
16 August 1975 – Land is returned to Australia’s indigenous people for the first time by an Australian government. Prime Minister Gough Whitlam (Australian Labor Party) returned land to Vincent Lingiari and the Gurindji people, who are based southwest of Katherine, in the Northern Territory. The land was returned as freehold following years of campaigning that included a strike in 1966 at Wave Hill cattle station.
16 August 1977 – death of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. Born 8 January 1935.