Bitter Definition
bĭtər
bitterest, bitters, bitterer
adjective
bitterest, bitterer
Having or being a taste that is sharp, acrid, and unpleasant.
American Heritage
Designating or having a sharp, often unpleasant taste; acrid, as quinine or peach stones.
Webster's New World
Causing a sharply unpleasant, painful, or stinging sensation; harsh.
Enveloped in bitter cold; a bitter wind.
American Heritage
Causing or showing sorrow, discomfort, or pain; grievous.
Webster's New World
Difficult or distasteful to accept, admit, or bear.
The bitter truth; bitter sorrow.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
adverb
In an intense or harsh way; bitterly.
A bitter cold night.
American Heritage
In a way that is bitter; bitterly.
Webster's New World
Extremely.
It was bitter cold.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
verb
bitters
To make or become bitter.
Webster's New World
To make bitter.
Wiktionary
noun
bitters
That which is bitter.
American Heritage
A bitter quality or thing.
Take the bitter with the sweet.
Webster's New World
A bitter, usually alcoholic liquid made with herbs or roots and used in cocktails or as a tonic.
American Heritage
Bitter, strongly hopped ale.
Webster's New World
A sharp-tasting beer made with hops.
American Heritage
Other Word Forms of Bitter
Adjective
Base Form:
bitter
Comparative:
bitterer
Superlative:
bitterestOrigin of Bitter
-
From Middle English, from Old English biter, bitter, from Proto-Germanic *bitraz. Compare West Frisian bitter, Dutch bitter, Low German bitter, German bitter, Icelandic bitur.
From Wiktionary
-
Middle English from Old English bheid- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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