obstructive

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“
The people are obstructive--that is conservative--in most things, and need plenty of time Unless you tell them what they are to do," laughed Watts.

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Definitions (7)

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  1. Serving or intended to obstruct, hinder, delay, or annoy: as, obstructive parliamentary proceedings. The North, impetuous, rides upon the clouds, Dispensing round the Heav'ns obstructive gloom. Glover, On Sir Isaac Newton. Within the walls of Parliament they began those obstructive tactics which afterwards deprived Parliament of no small share of its high repute and of its ancient authority. Quarterly Rev., CLXIII. 267.
  2. Given to obstructing or impeding: as, an obstructive official. The Cadi and other Turkish officials were insolent and obstructive, so I have got them in irons in the jail, with six of my force doing duty over them. Arch. Forbes, Souvenirs of some Continents, p. 111.
  3. One who or that which obstructs. One who or that which opposes progress, reform, or change. Episcopacy … was instituted as an obstructive to the diffusion of schism and heresy. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), II. 149. “Incompetent obstructives” are no doubt very objectionable people, but they do less injury to any cause than is done by indiscreet advocates. Nineteenth Century, XIX. 723.
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Examples (43)

  • The three types of sleep apnea are obstructive, mixed and central, and of these types, the most common is OSA or obstructive sleep apnea. —  Find Free Articles - ArticlesBase
  • For just this reason, the survivalist instincts within the NIF suggest that following the announcement by the ICC there will be a continuation of present policies: hostile, obstructive, threatening, harassing, and occasionally murderous.
  • Watkins, the medical director for the Dixie Regional Sleep Disorders Center, said there are over 70 recognized sleep disorders including common problems such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia and restless leg syndrome, to the more unusual and rare narcolepsy. —  thespectrum.com - Local News
  • CPC advanced our proven Cooled ThermoCath product with enhanced flexibility and cooling proximal to the treatment zone, accomplishments responsive to the urologist's expressed desires and perhaps of greater significance the distinction Urologix's high-energy Cooled Thermo Therapy is the only TMT device FDA labelled to treat both the symptomatic as well as the obstructive phase of BPH. —  SeekingAlpha.com: Home Page
  • The delay in dealing with my case is clearly unnecessary and is further proof of my punishment by an obstructive, obtuse and supercillious Clerk and Speaker of NSW Parliament. —  Sydney Indymedia - Comments
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Etymologies (1)

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  1. = French obstructif = Spanish Portuguese obstructivo = Italian ostruttivo, from Latin obstructus, past participle of obstruere, obstruct: see obstruct.
 

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