bitterly

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈbɪtəɹli/ UK /ˈbɪtəli/ See IPA manual

Freq #21715

Meanings

1

adv
In a way that shows anger, hurt, or resentment.

They complained bitterly about the new rules.
2

adv
Used to stress how strong a difficult feeling is.

I was bitterly disappointed by my exam results.
3

adv
(of cold) Extremely and sharply.

It was a bitterly cold night at the stadium.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 adv · (of cold) extremely and... bitter piercingly

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

bitterly disappointed
deeply upset because an important hope has not been fulfilled

Adverb + adjective

Etymology

From Middle English bitterli, biterli, biterliche, from Old English biterlīċe, bitterlīċe (“bitterly”), equivalent to bitter + -ly. Cognate with German Low German bitterlik (“bitterly”), German bitterlich (“bitterly”), Swedish bitterligen (“bitterly”).

bitterli Middle English biterlīċe Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# bitterly

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** /ˈbɪtəɹli/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈbɪtəli/
**Frequency rank:** 21715

## Meanings
1. In a way that shows anger, hurt, or resentment.
2. Used to stress how strong a difficult feeling is.
3. (of cold) Extremely and sharply.

## Examples
- They complained bitterly about the new rules.
- I was bitterly disappointed by my exam results.
- It was a bitterly cold night at the stadium.

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: bitterli
- Root: biterlīċe

## Etymology
From Middle English bitterli, biterli, biterliche, from Old English biterlīċe, bitterlīċe (“bitterly”), equivalent to bitter + -ly. Cognate with German Low German bitterlik (“bitterly”), German bitterlich (“bitterly”), Swedish bitterligen (“bitterly”).

## AI Etymology
Bitterly comes from Middle English bitterli, biterli, biterliche, from Old English biterlīċe, bitterlīċe (“bitterly”), equivalent to bitter + -ly. Cognate with German Low German bitterlik (“bitterly”), German bitterlich (“bitterly”), Swedish bitterligen (“bitterly”).

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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