restive, restless

restive, restless
These related words have a common Latin base, a term meaning "to remain standing." A restive person or animal is unable to remain at rest (that is, quiet) because he cannot bear restraint or control and becomes impatient with delay: "When tied to a hitching post, the horse became restive." Restless is a commonly used word applied more to unquiet and unease of the mind or emotions than of the body and usually suggesting the absence of actual restraint: "This restless patient has grown restive under hospital regulations." Restive, unlike restless, also implies refusing to move, being balky or recalcitrant. A horse chafing under a bit and refusing to obey its rider's commands would be termed restive, not restless.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • restless — restive, restless Despite its form, restive is close in meaning to restless, but conveys a stronger implication of disruptive consequences: • It s no surprise, then, when she turns up a little late…, not tardy enough to be really rude but… …   Modern English usage

  • restive — restive, restless Despite its form, restive is close in meaning to restless, but conveys a stronger implication of disruptive consequences: • It s no surprise, then, when she turns up a little late…, not tardy enough to be really rude but… …   Modern English usage

  • restive — See restive, restless …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • restless — See restive, restless …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • Restive — Rest ive (r?st ?v), a. [OF. restif, F. r[ e]tif, 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Restive — Rest ive (r?st ?v), a. [OF. restif, F. r[ e]tif, 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • restive — 1 *contrary, perverse, balky, froward, wayward Analogous words: intractable, *unruly, ungovernable, refractory: *obstinate, stubborn, mulish, stiff necked, pigheaded 2 restless, *impatient, nervous, unquiet, uneasy, fidgety, jumpy, jittery… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • restless — [adj] not content; moving about active, agitated, antsy*, anxious, bundle of nerves*, bustling, changeable, disturbed, edgy, fidgeting, fidgety, fitful, footloose*, fretful, hurried, ill at ease, inconstant, intermittent, irresolute, itchy*,… …   New thesaurus

  • restive / restful —    Restive means impatient and nervous, restless : Cory became restive once he knew the boss was going to call him into his office.    Restful means full of rest, calm, quiet, and restorative : A restful vacation in Indonesia was just what the… …   Confused words

  • restive / restful —    Restive means impatient and nervous, restless : Cory became restive once he knew the boss was going to call him into his office.    Restful means full of rest, calm, quiet, and restorative : A restful vacation in Indonesia was just what the… …   Confused words

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