| 释义 |
embitter, v.|ɛmˈbɪtə(r)|
Also 7–9 imbitter.
[f. en- + bitter a.]
1. trans. To make bitter, impart a bitter taste to. Now rare in lit. sense.
a1603T. Cartwright Confut. Rhem. N.T. (1618) 726 When I had eaten it, my bellie was imbittered. 1675Traherne Chr. Ethics 369 It is like wormwood that imbitters the nipple. 1775Adair Amer. Ind. 122 Warm water, highly imbittered with the button-snake-root. 1834New Monthly Mag. XL. 85 Brewers embitter their beer with hops.
2. fig. To infuse with bitterness, spoil the sweetness of (existence, pleasures, pursuits, etc.).
a1677Barrow in Spurgeon Treas. David Ps. cxix. 71 Impiety..doth embitter all the conveniences and comforts of life. 1713Steele Guardian No. 18 ⁋1 It would imbitter all the sweets of life. 1776Gibbon Decl. & F. I. 395 The last moments of Diocletian were embittered by some affronts. 1820Scott Abbot i, Two circumstances only had imbittered their union. 1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 38 His prosperity was embittered by one insupportable recollection. 1868Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) II. vii. 89 An act which embittered the remainder of his days.
3. fig. To make more bitter or painful.
1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. ii. xxii. 142 He imbitters not a distastfull message to a forrein Prince by his indiscretion in delivering it. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. (1869) II. xli. 516 His actual misery was embittered by the recollection of past greatness. 1790Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 85 To aggravate and imbitter that real inequality. 1876Green 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.).
1634Sanderson Serm. I. 65 The like censurings and despisings have imbittered the spirits. 1682Burnet Rights Princes ii. 31 Peoples minds were embittered one against another. 1748Anson Voy. ii. iii. (ed. 4) 208 The Captain..had much embittered the people against him. 1777Watson Philip II, (1793) I. viii. 317 Putting them to death would only serve to embitter the resentment of the people. 1868E. Edwards Ralegh I. vi. 98 Personal ill-feeling of long standing..further embittered the old quarrels. |