Bitter — Defs

01 n. AA turn of the cable which is round the bitts.

1.
AA turn of the cable which is round the bitts.(Naut.)

Phrases & compounds

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

02 a. Having a peculiar, acrid, biting taste, like that of wormwood or an infusion of hops; as, a bitter medicine; bitter as aloes.

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.

Phrases & compounds

Bitter apple — See Colocynth.

Bitter cress — a plant of the genus Cardamine, esp. Cardamine amara.

Bitter earth — tale earth; calcined magnesia.

Bitter principles — 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 — 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.

03 n. Any substance that is bitter. See Bitters.

1.
Any substance that is bitter. See Bitters. See: Bitters

04 v. t. To make bitter.

1.
To make bitter.