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.
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.