bittersweet
pronunciation
How to pronounce bittersweet in British English:
UK ['bɪtəswi:t]
How to pronounce bittersweet in American English:
US ['bɪtəˌswit]
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- Noun:
- poisonous perennial Old World vine having violet flowers and oval coral-red berries; widespread weed in North America
- twining shrub of North America having three-valved yellow capsules enclosing scarlet seeds
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- Adjective:
- tinged with sadness
- having a taste that is a mixture of bitterness and sweetness
Word Origin
- bittersweet (n.)
- also bitter-sweet, late 14c., used especially in Middle English in reference to a type of apple, from bitter (adj.) + sweet (adj.). As an adjective, attested from 1610s. Greek had a similarly formed compound, glykypikros, literally "sweet-bitter."
Example
- 1. Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste ?
- 2. Along the way she tells a poignant , bittersweet story .
- 3. Laura bush called her last christmas in the white house " bittersweet . "
- 4. There 's no question mother 's day will be bittersweet as one mother grieves while the other mothers hold onto their children a little tighter .
- 5. A recent xinhua article notes the chinese preoccupation with other asian teams and calls it a ' bittersweet moment ' for chinese soccer fans .