Found 2 items, similar to restive.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: restive restive adj 1: being in a tense state [syn: edgy, high-strung, highly strung , in suspense(p), jittery, jumpy, nervy, overstrung, uptight] 2: impatient especially under restriction or delay; “the government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive”
English → English (gcide) Definition: Restive 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 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] 2. Inactive; sluggish. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster] 3. Impatient under coercion, chastisement, or opposition; refractory. [1913 Webster] 4. Uneasy; restless; averse to standing still; fidgeting about; -- applied especially to horses. --Trench. [1913 Webster] -- Rest"ive, adv. -- Rest"ive*ness, n. [1913 Webster] 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 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] 2. Inactive; sluggish. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster] 3. Impatient under coercion, chastisement, or opposition; refractory. [1913 Webster] 4. Uneasy; restless; averse to standing still; fidgeting about; -- applied especially to horses. --Trench. [1913 Webster] -- Rest"ive, adv. -- Rest"ive*ness, n. [1913 Webster]