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adjective · C1

Restive

REST-iv/ˈrestɪv/

Restive means restless and impatient of control — not restful: a restive foyer, a restive cohort. Impatient (already in the dictionary) is the close twin; unease in the lobby is still an incident file.

Meaning

Restless and impatient of control (from impatient, already in the dictionary).

Examples

  • “A restive foyer is an incident file, not “banter”.”
  • “Impatient is already in this course. Restless is the close twin. Banter is talk. A log is a file. Write the incident; then keep the banter if the clause still sits on a fact.”

Good to know

Impatient and hard to control. Close: impatient (already in the dictionary). Not restful. Banter ≠ an incident file.

Near in meaning

restless, impatient, unruly

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