Costive
Costive (k?s"t?v) , adjective
[Old French costevé, past participle of costever, French constiper, Latin constipare to press closely together, to cram; con- + stipare to press together, cram. See Stipulate, Stiff, and compare Constipate.]
1.
Retaining fecal matter in the bowels; having too slow a motion of the bowels; constipated.
2.
Reserved; formal; close; cold. [Obsolete]
A costive brain.
Costive of laughter.
You must be frank, but without indiscretion; and close, but without being costive.
3.
Dry and hard; impermeable; unyielding. [Obsolete]
Clay in dry seasons is costive, hardening with the sun and wind.