1. trans. To make bitter, impart a bitter taste to. Now rare in lit. sense.
a. 1603. T. Cartwright, Confut. Rhem. N. T. (1618), 726. When I had eaten it, my bellie was imbittered.
1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethicks, xxiv. 369. It is like Wormwood that imbitters the Nipple.
1775. Adair, Amer. Ind., 122. Warm water, highly imbittered with the button-snake-root.
1834. New Monthly Mag., XL. 85. Brewers embitter their beer with hops.
2. fig. To infuse with bitterness, spoil the sweetness of (existence, pleasures, pursuits, etc.).
a. 1677. Barrow, in Spurgeon, Treas. David, Ps. cxix. 71. Impiety … doth embitter all the conveniences and comforts of life.
1713. Steele, Guardian, No. 18, ¶ 1. It would imbitter all the sweets of life.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. 395. The last moments of Diocletian were embittered by some affronts.
1820. Scott, Abbot, i. Two circumstances only had imbittered their union.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 38. His prosperity was embittered by one insupportable recollection.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. vii. 89. An act which embittered the remainder of his days.
3. fig. To make more bitter or painful.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xxii. 142. He imbitters not a distastfull message to a forrein Prince by his indiscretion in delivering it.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F. (1869), II. xli. 516. His actual misery was embittered by the recollection of past greatness.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 53. To aggravate and imbitter that real inequality.
1876. Green, Short Hist., x. § 4. 801. His failure was embittered by heavier disasters elsewhere.
4. fig. To render (persons or feelings) virulent, intensely hostile or discontented; to exacerbate, intensify (a quarrel, etc.).
1634. Sanderson, Serm., I. 65. The like censurings and despisings have imbittered the spirits.
1682. Burnet, Rights Princes, ii. 31. Peoples minds were embittered one against another.
1748. Anson, Voy., II. iii. (ed. 4), 208. The Captain … had much embittered the people against him.
1777. Watson, Philip II. (1793), I. VIII. 317. Putting them to death would only serve to embitter the resentment of the people.
1868. E. Edwards, Ralegh, I. vi. 98. Personal ill-feeling of long standing … further embittered the old quarrels.
