unable to stay still, or unwilling to be controlled, especially because you feel bored or not satisfied 难驾驭的;焦躁不安的;不耐烦的 The crowd was growing increasingly restive. 人群变得越来越不安。 The news was relayed to the restive citizens. 消息被传达给了焦躁不安的市民。
Word Originlate 16th cent.: from Old French restif, -ive, from Latin restare ‘remain’. The original sense, ‘inclined to remain still’, has been reversed; the association with the uncontrollable movements of a horse gave rise to the current sense ‘restless’.