Bit"ter , v. t. To make bitter.
Wolcott.
Bit"ter (&?;), n.
Any substance that is bitter. See Bitters.
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.
Syn. -- Acrid; sharp; harsh; pungent; stinging; cutting; severe; acrimonious.
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.
Hear it pronounced