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 ]
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