Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A morbid retention of fecal matter in the bowels. See constipation.
  • noun Figuratively, slowness in action; especially, slowness or difficulty in giving forth or uttering, in a general sense; closeness; reticence.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun An unnatural retention of the fecal matter of the bowels; constipation.
  • noun obsolete Inability to express one's self; stiffness.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state or quality of being costive; constipation.
  • noun obsolete Inability to express oneself; stiffness.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From costive +‎ -ness.

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