[res-tiv] 
| 1. | impatient of control, restraint, or delay, as persons; restless; uneasy. |
| 2. | refractory; stubborn. |
| 3. | refusing to go forward; balky: a restive horse. |
| res·tive (rěs'tĭv) adj.
[Middle English restif, stationary, from Old French, from rester, to remain, from Latin restāre, to keep back : re-, re- + stāre, to stand; see stā- in Indo-European roots.] res'tive·ly adv., res'tive·ness n. Usage Note: Restive is properly applied to a feeling of impatience or uneasiness induced by external coercion or restriction, and is not a general synonym for restless: The government has done nothing to ease export restrictions, and domestic manufacturers are growing restive (not restless). The atmosphere in the office was congenial, but after five years I began to grow restless (not restive). |
tɪv