Part 666

5. The hold which the short end of a lever has upon the thing to be lifted, or the hold which one part of a machine has upon another.

6. A cheat; a trick; a fraud. [Colloq.]

The baser methods of getting money by fraud and bite, by deceiving and overreaching. Humorist.

7. A sharper; one who cheats. [Slang] Johnson.

8. (Print.) A blank on the edge or corner of a page, owing to a portion of the frisket, or something else, intervening between the type and paper.

Bit"er (&?;), n. 1. One who, or that which, bites; that which bites often, or is inclined to bite, as a dog or fish. "Great barkers are no biters." Camden.

2. One who cheats; a sharper. [Colloq.] Spectator.

Bi*ter"nate (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + ternate.] (Bot.) Doubly ternate, as when a petiole has three ternate leaflets. -- Bi*ter"nate*ly, adv. Gray.

Bi"the*ism (&?;), n. [Pref. bi- + theism.] Belief in the existence of two gods; dualism.

Bit"ing (&?;), a. That bites; sharp; cutting; sarcastic; caustic. "A biting affliction." "A biting jest." Shak.

Bit"ing in" (&?;). (Etching.) The process of corroding or eating into metallic plates, by means of an acid. See Etch. G. Francis.

Bit"ing*ly, adv. In a biting manner.

Bit"less (&?;), a. Not having a bit or bridle.

Bit"stock` (&?;), n. A stock or handle for holding and rotating a bit; a brace.

Bitt (&?;), n. (Naut.) See Bitts.

Bitt (&?;), v. t. [See Bitts.] (Naut.) To put round the bitts; as, to bitt the cable, in order to fasten it or to slacken it gradually, which is called veering away. Totten.

Bit"ta*cle (&?;), n. A binnacle. [Obs.]

Bit"ten (&?;), p. p. of Bite.

Bit"ten (&?;), a. (Bot.) Terminating abruptly, as if bitten off; premorse.

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.

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.