- Bitter salt
- 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.
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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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
