bitterful

English

Etymology

From Middle English bitterful, equivalent to bitter +‎ -ful.

Adjective

bitterful (comparative more bitterful, superlative most bitterful)

1. Full of bitterness.

   Synonym: bitter

   • 1939, David Warren Ryder, San Francisco's Emperor Norton:

     Through his harmless proclamations can always be traced an innate gentleness of heart, a desire to effect uses and a courtesy, the possession of which would materially improve the bitterful living princes whose names will naturally suggest […]

   • 1960, Mountain of Villainy: A Triplicity:

     “Oh, Nip. You're going to be bitterful of wit at my expense?”

   • 1967, Leila Leah Bronner, Sects and Separatism During the Second Jewish Commonwealth:

     Now it came to pass that when Ptolemy, son of Lagus, came into this city with his army that these men, in observing this mad custom of their fathers, instead of guarding the city, suffered their country to submit itself to a bitterful lord, and their law was openly proved to have commanded a foolish practice.

   • 1974, Mary Stolz, The edge of next year:

     Right to be superior, angry, resentful, bitterful. . . . Bitterful? Orin's bitterful quiverful. That was rather good — If he slept here.

   • 1997, Summary of World Broadcasts: Asia, Pacific:

     The 18th May movement was a struggle by courageous citizens to guard the country's democracy, Ko noted, adding that the occasion should no longer be remembered bitterful, but celebrated as a historic day on which May people sacrificed to contribute to the country's democratization.

References

• “bitterful”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• riflebutt