biter and bitter - Middle English Compendium

Middle English Dictionary Entry

bit(t)er adj. as n.

Forms	bit(t)er adj. as n.
Etymology

(a) Grief, torment, suffering; (b) envy, ill will; (c) wickness evil; a sinner.

c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)6/41 : Þet bittere ilest þe efre, þet gode ne cumeþ þe nefre.
c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)8/96 : Ha lickið honi of þornes, ha buggeð al þet swete wið twa dale of bittre.
c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1689 : Ne eileð þer na mon..for nis ter nawt bittres.
c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)20a : Hope is a swete spice..þet sweteð al þet bitter þet te bodi drinkeð.
c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)98b : Godd..dronc attri drunch o rode, ant we nulleð nawt bittres biten for us seoluen.
c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)101b : Þe þolemode þolie bitter [Recl. 178/5: bitternesse] ane hwile; he schal sone þrefter habben ȝeld of blisse.
a1350 Flem.Insur.(Hrl 2253)99 : Hy were..y þe put falle..þer hi habbeþ dronke bittrere þen þe galle.
?c1335 Nou ihc for þi (Hrl 913)75 : Sore and bitter þe soule sal der.
(a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1708 : He drinkth the bitre with the swete, He medleth sorwe with likynge.
a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.179 : Beth glad..And I shal..Youre bittre tornen al into swetenesse.
a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)458 : Hov Venus gan to rwe..To chaunge hir bitter [vr. bitternesse] atones into soote.

c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.99 : Þus I liue loueles lyk A luþer dogge, þat al my breste Bolleþ for bitter [B: bytterhed] of my galle.

a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)99 : Holi husel..is..alre bitere biterest eches mannes soule, þe ne haueð alle michele sinnes forleten.
a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)173 : Hie tu[r]neð fram iuele to werse and fram bitere to biterure.
(1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)82 : Hi ne conne deme betuene zuete and byter.
(1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)150 : Huer ssolle by þe bitere [Vices & V.(2) 148/27: coueitous] and þe felle, wyþoute ine þe zorȝe of helle?

Bitterness.