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Webster 1913 Edition

Bitter

Bit′ter

,
Noun.
[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.

Bit′ter

,
Adj.
[AS.
biter
; akin to Goth.
baitrs
, Icel.
bitr
, Dan., Sw., D., & G.
bitter
, OS.
bittar
, fr. root of E.
bite
. See
Bite
,
Verb.
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.
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.
Syn. – Acrid; sharp; harsh; pungent; stinging; cutting; severe; acrimonious.

Bit′ter

,
Noun.
Any substance that is bitter. See
Bitters
.

Bit′ter

,
Verb.
T.
To make bitter.
Wolcott.

Webster 1828 Edition

Bitter

BIT'TER

, a.
1.
Sharp, or biting to the taste; acrid; like wormwood.
2.
Sharp; cruel; severe; as bitter enmity. Heb.1.
3.
Sharp, as words, reproachful; sarcastic.
4.
Sharp to the feeling; piercing; painful; that makes to smart; as a bitter cold day, or a bitter blast.
5.
Painful to the mind; calamitous; poignant; as a bitter fate.
6.
Afflicted; distressed.
The Egyptians made their lives bitter. Ex.1.
7.
Hurtful; very sinful.
Is is an evil and bitter thing. Jer.2.
8.
Mournful; distressing; expressive of misory; as a bitter complaint or lamentation. Job.23. Jer.6.31.

BIT'TER

,
Noun.
A substance that is bitter. [See Bitter.]

BIT'TER

,
Noun.
[See Bitts.] In marine language, a turn of the cable which is round the bitts.
Bitter-end, that part of a cable which is abaft the bitts, and therefore within board, when the ship rides at anchor.

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