restif

But restive comes from OF restif, meaning ` balky, unwilling to go forward, stationary. '

VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol XIII No 3 1986

In a case such as this, where a car had been badly damaged, the team would have knuckled down to an all-nighter, which was exactly what it said, the mechanics falling into bed just before dawn for a brief restif they were lucky.

Chequered Conflict Maurice Hamilton 2008

And a moving sight in truth, this, of so many of the besotted blind restif and ready-to-perish Hebrews! now maternally brought

An Introduction to the Study of Robert Browning's Poetry Hiram Corson 1869

And a moving sight in truth, this, of so many of the besotted blind restif and ready-to-perish Hebrews! now maternally brought-nay (for He saith, 'Compel them to come in') haled, as it were, by the head and hair, and against their obstinate hearts, to partake of the heavenly grace.

Dramatic Romances Robert Browning 1850

The earlier English spelling was restif or restiff and was later assimilated to the - ive adjectives.

VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol XIII No 3 1986

Pop-up large image himself: but dismounted from the Saddle, when he found the Beast which bore him began to grow restif and ungovernable. "

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 February 1783, "Dryden, whom I have always loved to read...," letterbook copy 1993