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amertume

bitterness

noun ah-mehr-TYM Rare
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Origin: Latin 'amaritudo' (bitterness)

Usage Note

Amertume refers almost always to emotional bitterness — resentment, disappointment, or a sense of grievance — rather than the taste of something bitter (for that, French uses amer/amère as an adjective or goût amer). The phrase avec amertume ('with bitterness') is a common adverbial construction in literature and journalism.

Examples

"Elle parlait de son divorce avec amertume."

Natural Translation

She spoke of her divorce with bitterness.

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