I. | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: Middle English biterswete, from biter bitter + swete sweetness — more at sweet
1. : something that is bittersweet : pleasure alloyed with pain
all the bittersweet of their long separation — Christopher Morley
2.
a. : a sprawling Old World poisonous plant ( Solanum dulcamara ) that is common as a weed in America and has purple flowers and oval coral-red berries and a taste at first sweetish and then bitter
b. : a No. American ornamental woody vine ( Celastrus scandens ) having clusters of small greenish flowers succeeded by yellow capsules that burst open when ripe disclosing the scarlet aril — called also climbing bittersweet, false bittersweet ; see evergreen bittersweet , japanese bittersweet
3.
a. : a deep orange that is deeper than bittersweet orange
b. : a dark to deep reddish orange — called also lobster
II. adjective
1. : at once bitter and sweet
a bittersweet apple
especially : pleasant but attended by elements or twinges of suffering or regret
bittersweet hunger of desire — Hamlin Garland
2. : of or relating to a prepared chocolate containing little sugar ; also : of or relating to syrups and candy coatings made of this chocolate or confections covered with such coatings