Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “bitterness” come from?

Bitterness comes from Middle English bitternesse, from Old English biterness, combining Old English bitter with the suffix -nes, ultimately from Proto-Germanic bitraz meaning sharp or biting.

bitterness (English): The quality of having a bitter taste; The quality...

Definitions

  1. The quality of having a bitter taste; The quality...

Ancestry of “bitterness”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbitterHaving an acrid taste; Harsh, piercing or...
2English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
3Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
4Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
5Latin-āre—
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-—
10Chichewaiyehe, she
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