English edit

 
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Pronunciation edit

Etymology 1 edit

From Middle English bitter, bittre, from Old English bitter, biter (bitter), from Proto-West Germanic *bit(t)r, from Proto-Germanic *bitraz (bitter), equivalent to bite +‎ -er (agent noun suffix) used attributively. Cognate with Saterland Frisian bitter, West Frisian bitter, Low German bitter, Dutch bitter, German bitter, Swedish bitter, Icelandic bitur (all meaning “bitter”).

Adjective edit

bitter (comparative more bitter or bitterer, superlative most bitter or bitterest)

  1. Having an acrid taste (usually from a basic substance).
    The coffee tasted bitter.
    • 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter III, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
      Long after his cigar burnt bitter, he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped; but he had lost all reckoning of time when he opened them again to find Miss Erroll in furs and ball-gown kneeling on the hearth [].
    • 2018 May 16, Adam Rogers, “The Fundamental Nihilism of Yanny vs. Laurel”, in Wired:
      A few types of molecules get sensed by receptors on the tongue. Protons coming off of acids ping receptors for "sour." Sugars get received as "sweet." Bitter, salty, and the proteinaceous flavor umami all set off their own neural cascades.
  2. Harsh, piercing or stinging.
    • 1999, Neil Gaiman, Stardust, p.31 (Perennial paperback edition)
      It was at the end of February, [] when the world was cold, and a bitter wind howled down the moors [].
  3. Hateful or hostile.
    They're bitter enemies.
    • 2022 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham: Gunners show identity & direction in outstanding derby win”, in BBC Sport[1]:
      Tottenham have not won in the Premier League at Emirates Stadium for 12 years, with Arsenal losing just one of their last 29 home league games against their bitter rivals.
    • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, [], →OCLC:
      He inveighed against the folly of making oneself liable for the debts of others; vented many bitter execrations against the brother; and concluded with wishing something could be done for the unfortunate family.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, [] (King James Version), London: [] Robert Barker, [], →OCLC, Colossians 3:19:
      Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
  4. Cynical and resentful.
    I've been bitter ever since that defeat.
Usage notes edit
  • The one-word compared forms bitterer, bitterest are less common than their two-word counterparts more bitter and most bitter.
Synonyms edit
  • (cynical and resentful): jaded
Antonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Descendants edit
  • Sranan Tongo: bita
Translations edit
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
See also edit

Noun edit

bitter (countable and uncountable, plural bitters)

  1. (usually in the plural bitters) A liquid or powder, made from bitter herbs, used in mixed drinks or as a tonic.
    • 1773, Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer:
      Thus I begin: "All is not gold that glitters,
      "Pleasure seems sweet, but proves a glass of bitters.
  2. A type of beer heavily flavored with hops.
  3. (nautical) A turn of a cable about the bitts.
Synonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
See also edit
Basic tastes in English (layout · text)
           
sweet sour salty bitter spicy savory / umami

Verb edit

bitter (third-person singular simple present bitters, present participle bittering, simple past and past participle bittered)

  1. To make bitter.
    • 1766, John Wilkinson, Tutamen Nauticum:
      bittered with the hop
Translations edit

Etymology 2 edit

bit +‎ -er

Noun edit

bitter (plural bitters)

  1. (computing, informal, in combination) A hardware system whose architecture is based around units of the specified number of bits (binary digits).
    • 1983, Computerworld, volume 17, number 49, page 21:
      However, 16-bitters are far more expensive than the 8-bit variety. And, unfortunately, have only a handful of business applications software packages that really take advantage of them.
    • 1984, Electronic Business, volume 10, page 154:
      The company believes that the 32-bit market will almost equal that of 16-bitters by the end of the decade. Chip maker Zilog Inc., not a major player in the 16-bit arena, is even more bullish about 32-bitters as it readies its own version for market.

Afrikaans edit

Etymology edit

Inherited from Dutch bitter, from Middle Dutch bitter, from Old Dutch bitter, from Proto-West Germanic *bit(t)r, from Proto-Germanic *bitraz.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

bitter (attributive bitter or bittere, comparative bitterder, superlative bitterste)

  1. bitter (having an acrid taste)
  2. very

Danish edit

Etymology 1 edit

Borrowed from Middle Low German bitter.

Adjective edit

bitter

  1. bitter (all meanings)
Inflection edit
Inflection of bitter
Positive Comparative Superlative
Indefinte common singular bitter bitrere bitrest2
Indefinite neuter singular bittert bitrere bitrest2
Plural bitre bitrere bitrest2
Definite attributive1 bitre bitrere bitreste
1) When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite, the corresponding "indefinite" form is used.
2) The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.
Related terms edit

Noun edit

bitter c (singular definite bitteren, plural indefinite bittere)

  1. bitter (the liquid used in drinks)
  2. A bitter form of an aquavit
Inflection edit

Etymology 2 edit

Borrowed from English bitter.

Noun edit

bitter c

  1. bitter (type of beer - only known generally in Denmark for a few years)

Dutch edit

Etymology edit

From Middle Dutch bitter, from Old Dutch bitter, from Proto-West Germanic *bit(t)r, from Proto-Germanic *bitraz.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

bitter (comparative bitterder, superlative bitterst)

  1. bitter (having an acrid taste)
  2. bitter, embittered

Inflection edit

Inflection of bitter
uninflected bitter
inflected bittere
comparative bitterder
positive comparative superlative
predicative/adverbial bitter bitterder het bitterst
het bitterste
indefinite m./f. sing. bittere bitterdere bitterste
n. sing. bitter bitterder bitterste
plural bittere bitterdere bitterste
definite bittere bitterdere bitterste
partitive bitters bitterders

Derived terms edit

Descendants edit

See also edit

Noun edit

bitter m or n (plural bitters, diminutive bittertje n)

  1. bitters, a type of strong spirits made by steeping (often bitter) herbs in brandy or jenever, traditionally considered a digestive drink.
    Synonym: kruidenbitter
    Zonder zijn gebruikelijke bittertje om vier uur voelde Opa zich niet lekker.Without his regular shot of bitter at four o'clock, Grandpa wouldn't feel well.

Usage notes edit

When used in a countable sense (a serving of bitter), the diminutive is the usual form.

Derived terms edit

Descendants edit

Further reading edit

Finnish edit

Etymology edit

From English bitter.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈbiter/, [ˈbit̪e̞r]
  • IPA(key): /ˈbitːer/, [ˈbit̪ːe̞r]
  • Rhymes: -itːer
  • Syllabification(key): bit‧ter

Noun edit

bitter

  1. bitter (type of beer)

Declension edit

Inflection of bitter (Kotus type 6/paperi, no gradation)
nominative bitter bitterit
genitive bitterin bitterien
bittereiden
bittereitten
partitive bitteriä bittereitä
bitterejä
illative bitteriin bittereihin
singular plural
nominative bitter bitterit
accusative nom. bitter bitterit
gen. bitterin
genitive bitterin bitterien
bittereiden
bittereitten
partitive bitteriä bittereitä
bitterejä
inessive bitterissä bittereissä
elative bitteristä bittereistä
illative bitteriin bittereihin
adessive bitterillä bittereillä
ablative bitteriltä bittereiltä
allative bitterille bittereille
essive bitterinä bittereinä
translative bitteriksi bittereiksi
abessive bitterittä bittereittä
instructive bitterein
comitative See the possessive forms below.
Possessive forms of bitter (Kotus type 6/paperi, no gradation)
first-person singular possessor
singular plural
nominative bitterini bitterini
accusative nom. bitterini bitterini
gen. bitterini
genitive bitterini bitterieni
bittereideni
bittereitteni
partitive bitteriäni bittereitäni
bitterejäni
inessive bitterissäni bittereissäni
elative bitteristäni bittereistäni
illative bitteriini bittereihini
adessive bitterilläni bittereilläni
ablative bitteriltäni bittereiltäni
allative bitterilleni bittereilleni
essive bitterinäni bittereinäni
translative bitterikseni bittereikseni
abessive bitterittäni bittereittäni
instructive
comitative bittereineni
second-person singular possessor
singular plural
nominative bitterisi bitterisi
accusative nom. bitterisi bitterisi
gen. bitterisi
genitive bitterisi bitteriesi
bittereidesi
bittereittesi
partitive bitteriäsi bittereitäsi
bitterejäsi
inessive bitterissäsi bittereissäsi
elative bitteristäsi bittereistäsi
illative bitteriisi bittereihisi
adessive bitterilläsi bittereilläsi
ablative bitteriltäsi bittereiltäsi
allative bitterillesi bittereillesi
essive bitterinäsi bittereinäsi
translative bitteriksesi bittereiksesi
abessive bitterittäsi bittereittäsi
instructive
comitative bittereinesi
first-person plural possessor
singular plural
nominative bitterimme bitterimme
accusative nom. bitterimme bitterimme
gen. bitterimme
genitive bitterimme bitteriemme
bittereidemme
bittereittemme
partitive bitteriämme bittereitämme
bitterejämme
inessive bitterissämme bittereissämme
elative bitteristämme bittereistämme
illative bitteriimme bittereihimme
adessive bitterillämme bittereillämme
ablative bitteriltämme bittereiltämme
allative bitterillemme bittereillemme
essive bitterinämme bittereinämme
translative bitteriksemme bittereiksemme
abessive bitterittämme bittereittämme
instructive
comitative bittereinemme
second-person plural possessor
singular plural
nominative bitterinne bitterinne
accusative nom. bitterinne bitterinne
gen. bitterinne
genitive bitterinne bitterienne
bittereidenne
bittereittenne
partitive bitteriänne bittereitänne
bitterejänne
inessive bitterissänne bittereissänne
elative bitteristänne bittereistänne
illative bitteriinne bittereihinne
adessive bitterillänne bittereillänne
ablative bitteriltänne bittereiltänne
allative bitterillenne bittereillenne
essive bitterinänne bittereinänne
translative bitteriksenne bittereiksenne
abessive bitterittänne bittereittänne
instructive
comitative bittereinenne
third-person possessor
singular plural
nominative bitterinsä bitterinsä
accusative nom. bitterinsä bitterinsä
gen. bitterinsä
genitive bitterinsä bitteriensä
bittereidensä
bittereittensä
partitive bitteriään
bitteriänsä
bittereitään
bitterejään
bittereitänsä
bitterejänsä
inessive bitterissään
bitterissänsä
bittereissään
bittereissänsä
elative bitteristään
bitteristänsä
bittereistään
bittereistänsä
illative bitteriinsä bittereihinsä
adessive bitterillään
bitterillänsä
bittereillään
bittereillänsä
ablative bitteriltään
bitteriltänsä
bittereiltään
bittereiltänsä
allative bitterilleen
bitterillensä
bittereilleen
bittereillensä
essive bitterinään
bitterinänsä
bittereinään
bittereinänsä
translative bitterikseen
bitteriksensä
bittereikseen
bittereiksensä
abessive bitterittään
bitterittänsä
bittereittään
bittereittänsä
instructive
comitative bittereineen
bittereinensä

Further reading edit

French edit

Pronunciation edit

Verb edit

bitter

  1. (transitive, slang) to understand, usually used in negative form and especially with rien
    Synonym: comprendre
    J’ai rien bitté au cours.
    I got nothing of the class

Conjugation edit

Further reading edit

German edit

Etymology edit

From Middle High German bitter, pitter, from Old High German bittar, from Proto-West Germanic *bit(t)r, from Proto-Germanic *bitraz. Compare Low German bitter, Dutch bitter, English bitter, Swedish bitter, Icelandic bitur.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

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bitter (strong nominative masculine singular bitterer, comparative bitterer, superlative am bittersten)

  1. bitter

Declension edit

Coordinate terms edit

Derived terms edit

See also edit

Basic tastes in German (layout · text)
           
süß sauer salzig bitter scharf herzhaft

Adverb edit

bitter

  1. bitterly
    Synonym: verbittert

Further reading edit

Italian edit

Etymology edit

Pseudo-anglicism, a clipping of English bitters.

Noun edit

bitter m (invariable)

  1. bitters

Middle Dutch edit

Etymology edit

From Old Dutch bitter, from Proto-West Germanic *bit(t)r, from Proto-Germanic *bitraz.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

bitter

  1. bitter (taste)
  2. sad, painful

Inflection edit

This adjective needs an inflection-table template.

Descendants edit

Further reading edit

Norwegian Bokmål edit

Etymology edit

From Middle Low German bitter and Old Norse bitr.

Adjective edit

bitter (neuter singular bittert, definite singular and plural bitre, comparative bitrere, indefinite superlative bitrest, definite superlative bitreste)

  1. bitter

Derived terms edit

References edit

Norwegian Nynorsk edit

Etymology edit

From Middle Low German bitter and Old Norse bitr.

Adjective edit

bitter (neuter singular bittert, definite singular and plural bitre, comparative bitrare, indefinite superlative bitrast, definite superlative bitraste)

  1. bitter

References edit

Old English edit

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

bitter

  1. Alternative form of biter

Declension edit

Old High German edit

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

bitter

  1. Alternative form of bittar

References edit

  • Joseph Wright, An Old High German Primer

Swedish edit

Etymology edit

From Old Norse bitr (partly through the influence of Middle Low German bitter), from Proto-Germanic *bitraz.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

bitter (comparative bittrare, superlative bittrast)

  1. bitter; having an acrid taste
  2. bitter; hateful
  3. bitter; resentful

Declension edit

Inflection of bitter
Indefinite Positive Comparative Superlative2
Common singular bitter bittrare bittrast
Neuter singular bittert bittrare bittrast
Plural bittra bittrare bittrast
Masculine plural3 bittre bittrare bittrast
Definite Positive Comparative Superlative
Masculine singular1 bittre bittrare bittraste
All bittra bittrare bittraste
1) Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.
2) The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative.
3) Dated or archaic

See also edit

References edit

Anagrams edit