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Added 10 October 2026

bittersweet

/ˈbɪtɚˌswit/ noun

In Latin: dulcamarus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about bittersweet at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Poisonous perennial Old World vine having violet flowers and oval coral-red berries; widespread weed in North America.
Twining shrub of North America having yellow capsules enclosing scarlet seeds.

adjective

Tinged with sadness.
a movie with a bittersweet ending
Having a taste that is a mixture of bitterness and sweetness.

Origin

From Middle English bitterswete, biterswete, equivalent to bitter + sweet. Cognate with Saterland Frisian bitterswäit (“bittersweet”), West Frisian bittersoet (“bittersweet”), Dutch bitterzoet (“bittersweet”), German bittersüß (“bittersweet”), Danish bittersød (“bittersweet”), Swedish bittersöt (“bittersweet”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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