| Bitter | a. [ AS. biter; akin to Goth. baitrs, Icel. bitr, Dan., Sw., D., & G. bitter, OS. bittar, fr. root of E. bite. See Bite, v. t. ] 1. Having a peculiar, acrid, biting taste, like that of wormwood or an infusion of hops; as, a bitter medicine; bitter as aloes. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Causing pain or smart; piercing; painful; sharp; severe; as, a bitter cold day. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Causing, or fitted to cause, pain or distress to the mind; calamitous; poignant. [ 1913 Webster ] It is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God. Jer. ii. 19. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Characterized by sharpness, severity, or cruelty; harsh; stern; virulent; as, bitter reproach. [ 1913 Webster ] Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Col. iii. 19. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. Mournful; sad; distressing; painful; pitiable. [ 1913 Webster ] The Egyptians . . . made their lives bitter with hard bondage. Ex. i. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]
Bitter apple,
Bitter cucumber,
Bitter gourd. (Bot.) See Colocynth. --
Bitter cress (Bot.), a plant of the genus Cardamine, esp. Cardamine amara. --
Bitter earth (Min.), tale earth; calcined magnesia. --
Bitter principles (Chem.), a class of substances, extracted from vegetable products, having strong bitter taste but with no sharply defined chemical characteristics. --
Bitter salt, Epsom salts; magnesium sulphate. --
Bitter vetch (Bot.), a name given to two European leguminous herbs, Vicia Orobus and Ervum Ervilia. --
To the bitter end, to the last extremity, however calamitous. [ 1913 Webster ]
Syn. -- Acrid; sharp; harsh; pungent; stinging; cutting; severe; acrimonious. [ 1913 Webster ] |
