Bittersweet: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ข๐
bittersweet
[ หbษชtษrหswit ]
emotional experience
Bittersweet describes an emotional experience that encompasses both happiness and sadness simultaneously. It often refers to memories or situations that evoke feelings of joy intertwined with a pang of sorrow. The complexity of bittersweet moments reflects the duality of human emotions, capturing the essence that joy can exist alongside pain. This term is frequently used in literature and music to convey themes of nostalgia or the passage of time.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The movie had a bittersweet ending.
- She felt a bittersweet happiness at graduation.
- The song captured the bittersweet feeling of lost love.
Translations
Translations of the word "bittersweet" in other languages:
๐ต๐น agridulce
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคกเคผเคตเคพ เคฎเฅเค เคพ
๐ฉ๐ช bitter-sรผร
๐ฎ๐ฉ pahit manis
๐บ๐ฆ ะณััะบะพ-ัะพะปะพะดะบะธะน
๐ต๐ฑ gorzko-sลodki
๐ฏ๐ต ใปใ่ฆใ (horonigai)
๐ซ๐ท amer-doux
๐ช๐ธ agridulce
๐น๐ท acฤฑ tatlฤฑ
๐ฐ๐ท ์ด ๋ฌ์ฝคํ (sseun dalkomhan)
๐ธ๐ฆ ู ูุฑู ุญููู (murr halu)
๐จ๐ฟ hoลkosladkรฝ
๐ธ๐ฐ horkosladkรฝ
๐จ๐ณ ่ฆ็ (kว tiรกn)
๐ธ๐ฎ grenko-sladek
๐ฎ๐ธ bitter-sweet
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฐัั-ัำััั
๐ฌ๐ช แขแแแแแแ แแ แขแแแแแ (tk'ivili da tk'bili)
๐ฆ๐ฟ acฤฑ-ลirin
๐ฒ๐ฝ agridulce
Etymology
The word 'bittersweet' is a compound adjective formed from two contrasting terms: 'bitter' and 'sweet'. The etymology of 'bitter' can be traced back to Old English 'biter', which is related to the Proto-Germanic *bitera and ultimately the Proto-Indo-European root *bheid-, meaning 'to split or break'. This term has long been associated with a harsh or unpleasant taste. 'Sweet', in contrast, originates from Old English 'swete' and shares roots with the Proto-Germanic *swลth and Proto-Indo-European *swad-, meaning 'pleasant, agreeable, or good'. The combination of these two words created 'bittersweet', which emerged in English during the 14th century primarily to describe the taste of certain foods that elicit both pleasurable and sharp flavors. Over time, 'bittersweet' evolved to capture complex emotional states and experiences that resonate with people in literary and artistic contexts, illustrating the intricacies of human feelings.