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   restive

   /ˈrɛstɪv/

   adjective

   • 1. (of a person) unable to remain still, silent, or submissive, especially because of boredom or dissatisfaction: "the crowd had been waiting for hours and many were becoming restive" Similar restlessfidgetyedgyon edgetenseuneasyill at easeworked upnervousagitatedanxiouson tenterhookskeyed upapprehensiveunquietimpatientnervyinformal:jumpyjitterytwitchyuptightwiredlike a cat on a hot tin rooflike a cat on hot bricksstressyunrulydisorderlyout of controluncontrollableunmanageableungovernableunbiddabledisobedientdefiantup in armswilfulrecalcitrantrefractoryinsubordinatedisaffecteddissentiousriotousrebelliousmutinousseditiousinsurgentinsurrectionaryinsurrectionistrevolutionaryinformal:bolshiearchaic:contumaciousOpposite calmbiddablepeaceable
   • ▪ (of a horse) stubbornly standing still or moving backwards or sideways; refusing to advance: "both their horses became restive at once"

   Word Origin late 16th century: from Old French restif, -ive, from Latin restare ‘remain’. The original sense, ‘inclined to remain still’, has undergone a reversal; the association with the refractory movements of a horse gave rise to the current sense ‘restless’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. restively adverb
   • 2. restiveness noun

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • S

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   • T

     1

   • I

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

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