Cress n. (pl. cresses) (Bot.) A plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and antiscorbutic. Note: The garden cress, called also peppergrass, is the Lepidium sativum; the water cress is the Nasturtium officinale. Various other plants are sometimes called cresses. "To strip the brook with mantling cresses spread." Bitter cress. See under Bitter. Not worth a cress, or not worth a kers a common old proverb, now turned into the meaningless "not worth a curse."
Bitter adj. 1.Having a peculiar, acrid, biting taste, like that of wormwood or an infusion of hops; as, a bitter medicine; bitter as aloes.
2.Causing pain or smart; piercing; painful; sharp; severe; as, a bitter cold day.
3.Causing, or fitted to cause, pain or distress to the mind; calamitous; poignant. "It is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God."
4.Characterized by sharpness, severity, or cruelty; harsh; stern; virulent; as, bitter reproach. "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them."
5.Mournful; sad; distressing; painful; pitiable. "The Egyptians... made their lives bitter with hard bondage."
Bitter apple, Bitter cucumber, Bitter gourd. (Bot.) See Colocynth. Bitter cress (Bot.), a plant of the genus Cardamine, esp. Cardamine amara.
Bitter earth (Min.), tale earth; calcined magnesia.
Bitter principles (Chem.), a class of substances, extracted from vegetable products, having strong bitter taste but with no sharply defined chemical characteristics.
Bitter salt, Epsom salts; magnesium sulphate.
Bitter vetch (Bot.), a name given to two European leguminous herbs, Vicia Orobus and Ervum Ervilia.
To the bitter end, to the last extremity, however calamitous.
Synonyms: Acrid; sharp; harsh; pungent; stinging; cutting; severe; acrimonious.
