Dictionary De - En
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De - Pt| English Dictionary: bitter salt | by the DICT Development Group |
| 1 result for bitter salt | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Bitter \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. | |
