ămārus, a, um, adj. [cf. ὠμός; Sanscr. āmas = raw, amlas = sour; Germ. Ampfer = sorrel, Curtius; cf. Heb., mar = bitter], bitter (syn. acerbus).
I Lit., of tasto (opp. dulcis): absinthi latex, Lucr. 1, 941; 4, 15: amara atque aspera, id. 2, 404: sensusjudicat dulce, amarum, Cic. Fin. 2, 12; so id. N. D. 3, 13: salices, pungent , Verg. E. 1, 79: Doris amara, brackish , i. e. the sea , id. ib. 10, 5: os, bitter taste in the mouth , Cels. 1, 3: calices amariores, i. e. harsh wine , Cat. 27, 2: aquae amarissimae, Vulg. Num. 5, 18.—
B Transf.
1 Of the hearing, rough , sharp , shrill (cf. acer): sonitus, Stat. Th. 10, 553, and,
2 Of smell, disagreeable , offensive : fructus amarus odore, Plin. 18, 12, 30, § 122.—
II Trop.
A Calamitous , unpleasant , sad (mostly poet.): amara dies et nectis amarior umbra, Tib. 2, 4, 11: casus, Ov. Tr. 5, 4, 15; so, amara mors, Vulg. 1 Reg. 15, 32: amores dulces aut amari, Verg. E. 3, 110: amarissimae leges necessitatis, Val. Max. 7, 6: amaritudo mea amarissima, Vulg. Isa. 38, 17.— Subst. plur. , bitterness , bitter things : et amara laeto Temperet risu, Hor. C. 2, 16, 26: amara curarum, id. ib. 4, 12, 19.—
B Of speech, bitter , biting , acrimonious , sarcastic , caustic , severe : dictis amaris, Ov. Tr. 3, 11, 31; so, scriptis, id. P. 4, 14, 37: hostis, Verg. A. 10, 900: sales, Quint. 10, 1, 117.—
C Of conduct, morose , ill - natured , sour , irritable : mulieres, * Ter. Hec. 710: amariorem me senectus facit, Cic. Att. 14, 21.—Adv., bitterly , in three forms:
a ămārē , Plaut. Truc. 1, 2, 78; Sen. Ben. 5, 23; Vulg. Isa. 22, 4; ib. Matt. 26, 75.— Comp. , Macr. Somn. Scip. 2, 1.— Sup. , Suet. Tib. 54.—*
b ămā-rĭter , Hier. Ep. 23.—
c ămārum , Ap. Met. 6, 13, 8; Amm. 21, 9 fin.