Dictionary Information: Definition Bitter - Description Meaning Thesaurus

Bitter (Bit"ter) (?), n.
[See Bitts.]

(Naut.) AA turn of the cable which is round the bitts.

-- Bitter end, that part of a cable which is abaft the bitts, and so within board, when the ship rides at anchor.

Bitter (Bit"ter) (?), 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.
2. Causing pain or smart; piercing; painful; sharp; severe; as, a bitter cold day.
3. Causing, or fitted to cause, pain or distress to the mind; calamitous; poignant. "It is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God." Jer. ii. 19.
4. Characterized by sharpness, severity, or cruelty; harsh; stern; virulent; as, bitter reproach. "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." Col. iii. 19.
5. Mournful; sad; distressing; painful; pitiable. "The Egyptians . . . made their lives bitter with hard bondage." Ex. i. 14.

-- Bitter apple, Bitter cucumber, Bitter gourd. (Bot.) See Colocynth.
-- Bitter cress (Bot.), a plant of the genus Cardamine, esp. C. 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.

Synonyms -- Acrid; sharp; harsh; pungent; stinging; cutting; severe; acrimonious.

Bitter (Bit"ter) (?), n.

Any substance that is bitter. See Bitters.

Bitter (Bit"ter), v. t.

To make bitter. Wolcott.