Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BIT'TERS, n.

A liquor in which bitter herbs or roots are steeped; generally a spirituous liquor, the bitter cause of intemperance, of disease, and of premature death!

BIT'TER-SALT, n.

Epsom salt.

BIT'TER-SPAR, n.

Rhombspar, a mineral that crystalises in rhomboids. It is the crystalized variety of magnesian limestone. – Ure.

BIT'TER-SWEET, n. [bitter and sweet.]

A species of Solanum, a slender climbing plant, whose root, when chewed, produces first a bitter, then a sweet taste. – Encyc.

BIT'TER-VETCH, n. [bitter and vetch.]

1. A species of Ervum, or lentil, cultivated for fodder. – Encyc.
2. A genus of plants known by the generic name Orobus, remarkable for their beautiful raipilionaceous flowers. The tubercles of one species are in great esteem among the Highlanders of Scotland, who chew them, when dry, to give a better relish to their liquors.

BIT'TER-WORT, n. [bitter and wort.]

The plant called gentian, Gentiana, which has a remarkably bitter taste.

BIT'TING, ppr.

Putting the bits in the mouth.

BIT'TOUR, or BIT'TOR, n.

The bittern. – Dryden.

BITTS, n. [plur. from the same root as bite.]

A frame of two strong pieces of timber fixed perpendicularly in the fore part of a ship, on which to fasten the cables, when she rides at anchor. There are also top-sail sheet bitts, paul bitts, carrick-bitts, &c. – Mar. Dict.

BI-TUME', n.

Bitumen, so written for the sake of the rhyme. – May.

BI-TU'MEN, n. [L.; Fr. bitume; Sp. betun; It. betume.]

This name is used to denote various inflammable substances, of a strong smell, and of different consistencies, which are found in the earth. There are several varieties, most of which evidently pass into each other, proceeding from naphtha, the most fluid, to petroleum, a viscid fluid, maltha, more or less cohesive, elastic bitumen or mineral caoutchouc, and asphalt, which is sometimes too hard to be scratched by the nail. – Nicholson. Cleaveland.

BI-TU'MI-NATE, v.t.

To impregnate with bitumen.

BI-TU'MI-NA-TED, a.

Impregnated with bitumen.

BI-TU-MI-NIF'ER-OUS, a. [bitumen and fero, to produce.]

Producing bitumen. – Kirwan.

BI-TU-MI-NI-ZA'TION, n.

The process of forming bitumen. – Mantell.

BI-TU'MI-NIZE, v.t.

To form into, or impregnate with bitumen. – Lit. Mag.

BI-TU'MI-NI-ZING, ppr.

Forming bitumen.

BI-TU'MI-NOUS, a.

Having the qualities of bitumen; compounded with bitumen; containing bitumen. – Milton. Bituminous limestone, is of a lamellar structure, susceptible of polish, of a brown or black color, and when rubbed, emitting an unpleasant smell. That of Dalmatia is so charged with bitumen, that it may be cut like soap. – Ure.

BI'VALVE,

or BI-VALV'U-LAR a. [or BI-VALV'OUS] Having two shells or valves which open and shut, as the oyster, and the seed vessels of certain plants. – Martyn. Coxe

BI'VALVE, n. [L. bis, twice, and valve, L. valva.]

An animal having two valves, or a shell consisting of two parts which open and shut. Also a pericarp in which the seed-ease opens or splits into two parts. – Encyc.

BI-VAULT'ED, a. [L. bis, twice, and vault.]

Having two vaults or arches. – Barlow.

BI-VEN'TRAL, a. [L. bis. and venter, belly.]

Having two bellies; as, a biventral muscle. – Bailey.

BIV'I-OUS, a. [L. bivius; bis and via, way.]

Having two ways, or leading two ways. – Brown.

BIV-OUAC', n. [bivwak'; Fr. This word is probably composed of be and the Teutonic root of wake, watch; Sax. wacian, to wake, to watch; L. vigilo; G. wache, a guard; wachen, to watch.]

The guard or watch of a whole army, as in cases of great danger of surprise or attack; or an encampment without tents.

BIV-OUAC', v.t.

To watch or be on guard, as a whole army. [This word anglicized would be bewatch.]