COSTIVELY

Etymology

Adverb

costively (comparative more costively, superlative most costively)

In a costive manner.

Source: Wiktionary


Cos"tive*ly, adv.

Definition: In a costive manner.

COSTIVE

Cos"tive (ks"tv), a. Etym: [OF. costev, 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

4 April 2025

GUILLOTINE

(verb) kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine; “The French guillotined many Vietnamese while they occupied the country”


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In 1884, Angelo Moriondo of Turin, Italy, demonstrated the first working example of an espresso machine.

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