Part 1152

<hw>Bit"ten</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>p. p.</tt> <def>of <er>Bite</er>.</def>

<h1>Bitten</h1> <Xpage=149>

<hw>Bit"ten</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>Terminating abruptly, as if bitten off; premorse.</def>

<h1>Bitter</h1> <Xpage=149>

<hw>Bit"ter</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Bitts</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>AA turn of the cable which is round the bitts.</def>

<cs><col>Bitter end</col>, <cd>that part of a cable which is abaft the bitts, and so within board, when the ship rides at anchor.</cd></cs>

<h1>Bitter</h1> <Xpage=149>

<hw>Bit"ter</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>biter</ets>; akin to Goth. <ets>baitrs</ets>, Icel. <ets>bitr</ets>, Dan., Sw., D., & G. <ets>bitter</ets>, OS. <ets>bittar</ets>, fr. root of E. <ets>bite</ets>. See <er>Bite</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Having a peculiar, acrid, biting taste, like that of wormwood or an infusion of hops; <as>as, a <ex>bitter</ex> medicine; <ex>bitter</ex> as aloes.</as></def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Causing pain or smart; piercing; painful; sharp; severe; <as>as, a <ex>bitter</ex> cold day</as>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Causing, or fitted to cause, pain or distress to the mind; calamitous; poignant.</def>

<blockquote>It is an evil thing and <b>bitter</b>, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God. <i>Jer. ii. 19.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Characterized by sharpness, severity, or cruelty; harsh; stern; virulent; <as>as, <ex>bitter</ex> reproach</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Husbands, love your wives, and be not <b>bitter</b> against them. <i>Col. iii. 19.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Mournful; sad; distressing; painful; pitiable.</def>

<blockquote>The Egyptians . . . made their lives <b>bitter</b> with hard bondage. <i>Ex. i. 14.</i></blockquote>

<cs><mcol><col>Bitter apple</col>, <col>Bitter cucumber</col>, <col>Bitter gourd</col></mcol>. <cd><fld>(Bot.)</fld> See <er>Colocynth</er>.</cd> -- <col>Bitter cress</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>a plant of the genus <spn>Cardamine</spn>, esp. <spn>C. amara</spn>.</cd> -- <col>Bitter earth</col> <fld>(Min.)</fld>, <cd>tale earth; calcined magnesia.</cd> -- <col>Bitter principles</col> <fld>(Chem.)</fld>, <cd>a class of substances, extracted from vegetable products, having strong bitter taste but with no sharply defined chemical characteristics.</cd> -- <col>Bitter salt</col>, <cd>Epsom salts;; magnesium sulphate.</cd> -- <col>Bitter vetch</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>a name given to two European leguminous herbs, <spn>Vicia Orobus</spn> and <spn>Ervum Ervilia</spn>.</cd> -- <col>To the bitter end</col>, <cd>to the last extremity, however calamitous.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- Acrid; sharp; harsh; pungent; stinging; cutting; severe; acrimonious.</syn>

<h1>Bitter</h1> <Xpage=149>

<hw>Bit"ter</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Any substance that is bitter. See <er>Bitters</er>.</def>

<h1>Bitter</h1> <Xpage=149>

<hw>Bit"ter</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To make bitter.</def>

<i>Wolcott.</i>

<h1>Bitterbump</h1> <Xpage=149>

<hw>Bit"ter*bump`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>the butterbump or bittern.</def>

<h1>Bitterful</h1> <Xpage=149>

<hw>Bit"ter*ful</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Full of bitterness.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Bittering</h1> <Xpage=149>

<hw>Bit"ter*ing</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A bitter compound used in adulterating beer; bittern.</def>