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Restive

//ˈɹɛstɪv// adj

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Impatient under delay, duress, or control.

    "The horses were now more restive than ever, and Johann was trying to hold them in."

  2. 2
    Resistant to control; stubborn.

    "Yet I am of Opinion, this Defect ariſeth chiefly from a perverſe, reſtive Diſpoſition. For they are cunning, malicious, treacherous and revengeful."

  3. 3
    Refusing to move, especially in a forward direction.
Adjective
  1. 1
    impatient especially under restriction or delay wordnet
  2. 2
    being in a tense state wordnet

Etymology

Modification of earlier restiff, from Middle English restyf, from Old French restif, from rester (“stay, remain”), from Latin restō. * Shares an etymology with rest ("remain," obsolete) *Merriam-Webster states that this word was originally used to describe horses that disobeyed commands. Presumably, then, the word came to mean "fidgety" or "anxious" more broadly.

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