Bit·ter a.
 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. Cardamine 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.


 Vicia orobus
      n : European perennial toxic vetch [syn: bitter betch]