Middle English Dictionary Entry
costī̆f adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | costī̆f adj. Also costī̆ve. |
| Etymology | OF costeve, ppl. of costever; reformed on anal. of adjs. in -ī̆f. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Constipated, costive.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)273/2 : He schal ete no mete þat wole make him costif.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)28/10 : Þat nane be costiue..þurȝ surfait o mete.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)11/25 : Ȝif his wombe be costyue [L constipetur] be it softned þat þe hardnes of þe ordure bryng noȝt in anguissh in egestion doyng.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)165/28 : It schal make þe laxatyf, ȝef a man be costyf [vr. constipate].
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)189 : Ȝif þou wilte solue þe wombe that is costyff..this medecyne ys a noble laxatyff.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)76/16 : Who-so, engrutyd of mete, or costyf of body, entrys Bathes.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)12/9 : Ȝyf þou be costyf and wolt make nesche þy wombe.