BITTEREST

Adjective

bitterest

superlative form of bitter: most bitter.

Source: Wiktionary

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BITTER

Bit"ter, n. Etym: [See Bitts.] (Naut.)

Definition: 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. Etym: [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. The Egyptians . . . made their lives bitter with hard bondage. Ex. i. 14. Bitter apple, Bitter cucumber, Bitter gourd. (Bot.) See Colocynth.

– Bitter cress (Bot.), a plant of the genus Cardamine, esp. C. 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.

Syn.

– Acrid; sharp; harsh; pungent; stinging; cutting; severe; acrimonious.

Bit"ter, n.

Definition: Any substance that is bitter. See Bitters.

Bit"ter, v. t.

Definition: To make bitter. Wolcott.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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