bitterとは

語源 1

From Middle English bitter, from 古期英語 bitter, biter (“bitter”), from Proto-Germanic *bitraz (“bitter”), equivalent to bite +‎ -er (adjectival suffix). Compare Saterland Frisian bitter (“bitter”), West Frisian bitter (“bitter”), Dutch bitter (“bitter”), Low German bitter (“bitter”), German bitter (“bitter”), Swedish bitter (“bitter”), Icelandic bitur (“bitter”).

形容詞

bitter (comparative bitterer または more bitter, superlative bitterest または most bitter)

1. Having an acrid taste (usually from a basic substance).

   The coffee tasted bitter.

   • 1907, Robert William Chambers, chapter III, in The Younger Set (Project Gutenberg; EBook #14852), New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, published 1 February 2005 (Project Gutenberg version), OCLC 24962326:

     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, Wired, "The Fundamental Nihilism of Yanny vs. Laurel":

     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.

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

     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.

   • Bible, Colossians iii. 19

     Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

4. Cynical and resentful.

   I've been bitter ever since that defeat.

使用する際の注意点

• The one-word comparative form bitterer and superlative form bitterest exist, but are less common than their two-word counterparts more bitter and most bitter.

同意語

• (cynical かつ resentful): jaded

反意語

• (cynical かつ resentful): optimistic

派生語

• bitter pill to swallow
• bittersome

参考

• bitter end

名詞

bitter (countable かつ uncountable, 複数形 bitters)

1. (usually in the 複数形 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.

同意語

• (beer): English pale ale, EPA

派生語

• brought up to a bitter

動詞

bitter (三人称単数 現在形 bitters, 現在分詞 bittering, 過去形および過去分詞形 bittered)

1. To make bitter.

   (Can we find かつ add a quotation of Wolcott to this entry?)

語源 2

bit +‎ -er

名詞

bitter (複数形 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.

形容詞

bitter

1. Alternative form of biter