adj.
Pronunciation: ' käs-tiv, ' ko ̇ s-
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French costivé, past participle of costiver to constipate, from Latin constipare
Date: 14th century
1 a : affected with constipation b : causing constipation
2 : slow in action or expression
3 : not generous : STINGY
– cos · tive · ly adverb
– cos · tive · ness noun