bitter

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English[edit]

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

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]
  • (antonym(s) of "cynical and resentful"): optimistic
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

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]
Declension of bitter
common
gender 		Singular Plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative bitter bitteren bittere bitterne
genitive bitters bitterens bitteres bitternes

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]

Conjugation of bitter (see also Appendix:French verbs)
infinitive simple bitter
compound avoir + past participle
present participle or gerund1 simple bittant
/bi.tɑ̃/
compound ayant + past participle
past participle bitté
/bi.te/
singular plural
first second third first second third
indicative je (j’) tu il, elle, on nous vous ils, elles
(simple
tenses) 		present bitte
/bit/ 		bittes
/bit/ 		bitte
/bit/ 		bittons
/bi.tɔ̃/ 		bittez
/bi.te/ 		bittent
/bit/
imperfect bittais
/bi.tɛ/ 		bittais
/bi.tɛ/ 		bittait
/bi.tɛ/ 		bittions
/bi.tjɔ̃/ 		bittiez
/bi.tje/ 		bittaient
/bi.tɛ/
past historic2 bittai
/bi.te/ 		bittas
/bi.ta/ 		bitta
/bi.ta/ 		bittâmes
/bi.tam/ 		bittâtes
/bi.tat/ 		bittèrent
/bi.tɛʁ/
future bitterai
/bi.tʁe/ 		bitteras
/bi.tʁa/ 		bittera
/bi.tʁa/ 		bitterons
/bi.tʁɔ̃/ 		bitterez
/bi.tʁe/ 		bitteront
/bi.tʁɔ̃/
conditional bitterais
/bi.tʁɛ/ 		bitterais
/bi.tʁɛ/ 		bitterait
/bi.tʁɛ/ 		bitterions
/bi.tə.ʁjɔ̃/ 		bitteriez
/bi.tə.ʁje/ 		bitteraient
/bi.tʁɛ/
(compound
tenses) 		present perfect present indicative of avoir + past participle
pluperfect imperfect indicative of avoir + past participle
past anterior2 past historic of avoir + past participle
future perfect future of avoir + past participle
conditional perfect conditional of avoir + past participle
subjunctive que je (j’) que tu qu’il, qu’elle que nous que vous qu’ils, qu’elles
(simple
tenses) 		present bitte
/bit/ 		bittes
/bit/ 		bitte
/bit/ 		bittions
/bi.tjɔ̃/ 		bittiez
/bi.tje/ 		bittent
/bit/
imperfect2 bittasse
/bi.tas/ 		bittasses
/bi.tas/ 		bittât
/bi.ta/ 		bittassions
/bi.ta.sjɔ̃/ 		bittassiez
/bi.ta.sje/ 		bittassent
/bi.tas/
(compound
tenses) 		past present subjunctive of avoir + past participle
pluperfect2 imperfect subjunctive of avoir + past participle
imperative – tu – nous vous –
simple — bitte
/bit/ 		— bittons
/bi.tɔ̃/ 		bittez
/bi.te/ 		—
compound — simple imperative of avoir + past participle — simple imperative of avoir + past participle simple imperative of avoir + past participle —
1 The French gerund is usable only with the preposition en.
2 In less formal writing or speech, these tenses may be found to have been replaced in the following way:
  • past historic → present perfect
  • past anterior → pluperfect
  • imperfect subjunctive → present subjunctive
  • pluperfect subjunctive → past subjunctive

(Christopher Kendris [1995], Master the Basics: French, pp. 77, 78, 79, 81).

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]

The template Template:rfc does not use the parameter(s): 
entry lacks contracted forms like ''bittren=bitteren, bittrer = bitterer, bittrere = bitterere''
Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.

A user suggests that this German entry be cleaned up.
Please see the discussion on Requests for cleanup(+) or the talk page for more information and remove this template after the problem has been dealt with.

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

  1. bitter

Declension[edit]

Positive forms of bitter
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter
predicative er ist bitter sie ist bitter es ist bitter sie sind bitter
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative bitterer bittere bitteres bittere
genitive bitteren bitterer bitteren bitterer
dative bitterem bitterer bitterem bitteren
accusative bitteren bittere bitteres bittere
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der bittere die bittere das bittere die bitteren
genitive des bitteren der bitteren des bitteren der bitteren
dative dem bitteren der bitteren dem bitteren den bitteren
accusative den bitteren die bittere das bittere die bitteren
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein bitterer eine bittere ein bitteres (keine) bitteren
genitive eines bitteren einer bitteren eines bitteren (keiner) bitteren
dative einem bitteren einer bitteren einem bitteren (keinen) bitteren
accusative einen bitteren eine bittere ein bitteres (keine) bitteren
Comparative forms of bitter
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter
predicative er ist bitterer sie ist bitterer es ist bitterer sie sind bitterer
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative bittererer bitterere bittereres bitterere
genitive bittereren bittererer bittereren bittererer
dative bittererem bittererer bittererem bittereren
accusative bittereren bitterere bittereres bitterere
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der bitterere die bitterere das bitterere die bittereren
genitive des bittereren der bittereren des bittereren der bittereren
dative dem bittereren der bittereren dem bittereren den bittereren
accusative den bittereren die bitterere das bitterere die bittereren
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein bittererer eine bitterere ein bittereres (keine) bittereren
genitive eines bittereren einer bittereren eines bittereren (keiner) bittereren
dative einem bittereren einer bittereren einem bittereren (keinen) bittereren
accusative einen bittereren eine bitterere ein bittereres (keine) bittereren
Superlative forms of bitter
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter
predicative er ist am bittersten sie ist am bittersten es ist am bittersten sie sind am bittersten
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative bitterster bitterste bitterstes bitterste
genitive bittersten bitterster bittersten bitterster
dative bitterstem bitterster bitterstem bittersten
accusative bittersten bitterste bitterstes bitterste
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der bitterste die bitterste das bitterste die bittersten
genitive des bittersten der bittersten des bittersten der bittersten
dative dem bittersten der bittersten dem bittersten den bittersten
accusative den bittersten die bitterste das bitterste die bittersten
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein bitterster eine bitterste ein bitterstes (keine) bittersten
genitive eines bittersten einer bittersten eines bittersten (keiner) bittersten
dative einem bittersten einer bittersten einem bittersten (keinen) bittersten
accusative einen bittersten eine bitterste ein bitterstes (keine) bittersten

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]

Declension of bitter — Strong
Singular Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative bitter bitteru, bitru, bittero, bitro bitter
Accusative bitterne bittere, bitre bitter
Genitive bitteres, bitres bitterre bitteres, bitres
Dative bitterum, bitrum bitterre bitterum, bitrum
Instrumental bittere, bitre bitterre bittere, bitre
Plural Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative bittere, bitre bittera, bitra, bittere, bitre bitteru, bitru, bittero, bitro
Accusative bittere, bitre bittera, bitra, bittere, bitre bitteru, bitru, bittero, bitro
Genitive bitterra bitterra bitterra
Dative bitterum, bitrum bitterum, bitrum bitterum, bitrum
Instrumental bitterum, bitrum bitterum, bitrum bitterum, bitrum
Declension of bitter — Weak
Singular Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative bittera, bitra bittere, bitre bittere, bitre
Accusative bitteran, bitran bitteran, bitran bittere, bitre
Genitive bitteran, bitran bitteran, bitran bitteran, bitran
Dative bitteran, bitran bitteran, bitran bitteran, bitran
Instrumental bitteran, bitran bitteran, bitran bitteran, bitran
Plural Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative bitteran, bitran bitteran, bitran bitteran, bitran
Accusative bitteran, bitran bitteran, bitran bitteran, bitran
Genitive bitterra, bitterena, bitrena bitterra, bitterena, bitrena bitterra, bitterena, bitrena
Dative bitterum, bitrum bitterum, bitrum bitterum, bitrum
Instrumental bitterum, bitrum bitterum, bitrum bitterum, bitrum

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]

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