Emily Dickinson Lexicon

REST'IF, a. [Fr. retif; It. restivo, restio; from L. resto.]

1. Unwilling to go, or only running back; obstinate in refusing to move forward; stubborn; as, a restif steed. It seems originally to have been used of horses that would not be driven forward. It is sometimes written Restive. All who before him did ascend the throne, / Labor'd to draw three restive nations on. – Roscommon.
2. Unyielding; as, restif stubbornness. – L'Estrange.
3. Being at rest, or less in action. [Not in use.] – Brown.