— bittersweetly , adv. — bittersweetness , n.
adj. /bit'euhr sweet", bit"euhr sweet'/ ; n. /bit"euhr sweet'/ , adj.
1. both bitter and sweet to the taste: bittersweet chocolate.
2. both pleasant and painful or regretful: a bittersweet memory.
n.
3. Also called woody nightshade . a climbing or trailing plant, Solanum dulcamara, of the nightshade family, having small, violet, star-shaped flowers with a protruding yellow center and scarlet berries.
4. Also called climbing bittersweet . any climbing plant of the genus Celastrus, bearing orange capsules opening to expose red-coated seeds, esp. C. scandens.
5. pleasure mingled with pain or regret: the bittersweet of parting.
[ 1350-1400; ME; see BITTER, SWEET ]