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 ] 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 ] | 
