GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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1.       
   Restive , a. [OF. restif, F. rétif, fr. L. restare to stay back, withstand, resist. See Rest remainder, and cf. Restiff.] . Unwilling to go on; obstinate in refusing to move forward; stubborn; drawing back.
   1913 Webster
   Restive or resty, drawing back, instead of going forward, as some horses do.
   E. Philips (1658).
   
   1913 Webster
   The people remarked with awe and wonder that the beasts which were to drag him [Abraham Holmes] to the gallows became restive, and went back.
   Macaulay.
   
   1913 Webster
   Inactive; sluggish. [Obs.]
   Sir T. Browne.
   
   1913 Webster
   Impatient under coercion, chastisement, or opposition; refractory.
   1913 Webster
   Uneasy; restless; averse to standing still; fidgeting about; -- applied especially to horses.
   Trench.
   
   1913 Webster
   -- Rest"ive, adv. -- Rest"ive*ness, n.
   1913 Webster