bitter-salt 
bitter-salt (bit 'er-s.-ilt ), M. [< bitterl + salt, >,. : 
= <(. hi/it'i-xiiL 1). liiiiii niii.\ Kpsom salt; 
i shim sulphate. 
bittersgall (birer/.-gal), . AM old Knylisii 
name lor the fruit of tint wild crab, I'yrnx 
tun I ii n. 
bitter-spar (bit'er-spar), . Rhomb-spar, a 
]nini-r:il crystallizing in rhombohedrons. ll U 
the same as dolomite, or carbonate of calcium 
Mild magnesium. 
bitter-stem, bitter-stick d>ii'er-stem. -stick), 
a. Thi 1 cliiretta of India. Ophelia t'liinitu. a 
gcntiaiiaceons plant furnishing a valuablo bit- 
tt'P toll I'-. 
bitter-sweet (bit'er-swet), a. and n. I. n. 
Uniting bitterness and sweetness; pleasant 
and painful at the same time. 
i in.' by mif the frenh-stirred memories, 
So bittrr-xiivet, llickere.l ami dii'il away. 
\y attain MorriH, Earthly Paradise, I. 139. 
II. n. That which is both bitter and sweet : 
as, the hitter-sweet of life. 
1 iiave known some few, 
And read of more, who turn- had their dose, and ill -e|i, 
Of those sharp bitter-xiceftx. 
II. Jiini, Sail shepherd, i. -. 
bittersweet (bit'er-swet), . 1. The woody 
nightshade, Solatium Dulcamara, a trailing 
plant, native of Europe and Asia, and natural- 
ized in the United States. Its root and bran. -lie* 
999 
vent the chain from jumping off while veering. 
See cut under bitt-xtii/i/it r. 
bitt-stopper (bit 'stop er>. . \<nit., a rope or 
.ni'l Bitt-stoppei on Chain-cable, a, bitt-pin. 
, 
nibby, fatxe, orcliiiiliiiifi bittersweet of the Tnited States 
the Cela*tnix ncatuten-x, also known as the xtajT-tret. 
Flowering: branch of the Climbing Bittersweet (Ctlastrui start- 
dtnsi t with fruit ami flower nn larger scale. [From Cray's "Genera 
of the Plants of the United States.) 
when chewed produce first a hitter, then a sweet taste: 
they have long been used as a remedy in various skin-dis- 
eases. Its small scarlet berries, resembling red currants. 
though not absolutely poisonous, are not wholesome. The 
Hhni 
is th 
2. Same as bitter-sweeting. 
bitter-sweetingt (bit'er-swe'ting), H. A variety 
of apple. 
Thy wit is a very hitler Meeting. Shut., R. and J., 11. 4. 
bitter-vetch (bit'er-yech), . A name popu- 
larly applied to two kinds of leguminous plants : 
(</) to Krmim Jirvilia, a lentil cultivated for 
fodder; and (6) to all the species of the genus 
Orobus, now included in the genus Lathyriis. 
Common bitter-vetch is L. macrorrhizus. 
bitter-weed (bit'er-wed), . A name given to 
American species of ragweed, Ambrosia <irtc- 
niisiii'foliii and .1. Iriliil/i. 
bitter-WOOd (bit'er-wud), w. 1. The timber of 
Xylopia tjlabra, and other species of the same 
genus. All of them are noted for the extreme 
bitterness of their wood. 2. A name applied to 
the quassia woods of commerce, the West Indian 
I'ii-rn nn cxcetsa and the Surinam (Jna.txia iniia- 
ra. See quassia. r wwte bitter-wood, of Jamaica, 
it llH'liaeeOUS tlVC. Tt'it'llilift XjHI/l'li'lill''*. 
bitterwort (bit'er-wert), n. Yellow gentian, 
(iriiliini/i hitm, and some other species: so 
called from their remarkably bitter taste. 
bitt-head (bit'hed), n. ffaut., the upper part 
of a bill. 
bitting-harness (bit'ing-har'iies), H. A har- 
ness used in training colts. 
bitting-rigging (bit'ing-rig'iug), . A bridle. 
surcingle, liack-sti-ap, and crupper placed on 
young horses to give them a good carriage. 
bittle (bit'l), n. A Scotch and Knglish dia- 
lectal form of licctli-l. 
bittlin (bit'lin), . [E. dial. : perhaps for *bit- 
tliiiii. < bitt. hit* (= butt'*) + dim. -ling.'] A 
milk-bowl. Grose. 
bittock (bit'ok). H. [< 6i(2 + aim. -Oct.] A 
little bit; a short distance. Scott; Mrs. (inn : 
[Scotch.] 
bittort, bittourt, . Obsolete forms of bittern 1 . 
bitt-pin (bit'pin), n. Xaitt.. a large iron pin 
placed in the head of the cable-bitts to pre- 
chain stopper made fast to the bit t s, and used 
to hold a cable while bitting or unbitting it. 
bituberculate, bituberculated (bi-tu-ber'kci- 
lat, -la-ted), a. [< fct- a + ti<berculate.j In m- 
tom., having two tubercles or small blunt ele- 
vations. 
bitumet (bi-tum'), n. [< F. bitume, < L. bi- 
t n iiii-n : see bitumen.] Bitumen: as, " hellebore 
and black bitume," Mai/. 
bitume (bi-tum'). v. t.; pret. and pp. bitui/ted, 
ppr. liitiiminq. [< bitumr, .] To cover or be- 
smear with bitumen; bituminate. 
We have a chest beneath the hatches, caulked and bi- 
Inmnl. Shot., Pericles, ill. 1. 
The basket of bulrushes for the Infant Moses, when 
thoroughly bitumed, was well adapted to the purpose for 
which it was made. W. M. Thmiuivn, Land and Book. 
bitumen (bi-tu'men), n. [Early mod. E. also 
bittumen, betttmen (also bitume, lietume, betune: 
see bitume) = F. bitume = Pr. betum = Sp. betun 
= Pg. betume = It. bitume, < L. bitumen.'] The 
name given by Latin writers, especially by 
Pliny, to various forms of hydrocarbons now 
included under the names of asphaltum, maltha, 
and petroleum (see these words). Bitumen, as used 
by artiste, is a mixture of asphaltum with a drying-oil. It 
produces a rich brown transparent surface, but is liable to 
crack and blacken. Bitumen process, in phnloy., an 
early method of producing pictures resting upon the prop- 
erty of sensitiveness to light possessed by asphaltum or 
bitumen of Judrea. The process has received a modem 
application in some systems of photo-engraving. Sec 
photography, and Gillet process, under photo-eivjraviw.r. 
- Elastic bitumen. See elatrrite. 
bituminate (bi-tu'mi-nat), v. t. ; pret. and pp. 
hituniinated, ppr. bituminating. [< L. bttunii- 
natus, pp. of oituminare, impregnate with bitu- 
men, < bitumen (bitumiti-), bitumen.] 1. To 
cement with bitumen. 
Rituiitinatt'd walls of Babylon. Felthain, Resolves, i. 46. 
2. To impregnate with bitumen, 
bituminiferous (bi-tu-mi-nif'e-rus), a. [< L. 
bitumen, bitumen, + ferre ="E. feme 1 .] Pro- 
ducing bitumen. 
Tin- bitumini/ermtx substance known as boghead ('an- 
nel [coal]. IT. A. IHillei; Elem. of Chem., 1537. 
bituminization (bi-tu'mi-ni-za'shon), n. [< 61- 
tumini:e + -a/io/i.] The transformation of or- 
ganic matters into bitumen, as the conversion 
of wood by natural processes into several va- 
rieties of coal. Also spelled bituminization. 
bituminize (bi-tu'mi-niz), . t. ; pret. and pp. 
Intuminised, ppr. bituminizing. [< bitumen (bi- 
titmin-) + -rc.] To form into or impregnate 
with bitumen. Also spelled bituminise. 
bituminous (bi-tu'mi-nus), a. [= F. bituati- 
m'Hjr, < L. bituminosus, < bitumen (bitumiti-), bitu- 
men.] 1. Of the nature of or resembling bitu- 
men. 2. Containing bitumen, or made up in 
part of the hydrocarbons which form aspnal- 
tum, maltha, and petroleum. See petroleum. 
Near that bltuniinonn lake where Sodom Mamed. 
Milton, P. L., X. 66i 
Bituminous cement, or bituminous mastic, a cement 
or mastic in which bitumen, especially in the form of as- 
phalt, isthe most important iii<-:r<'<lifnt : it is used for roofs, 
piivviiii'nts. list. ins. etc. -Bituminous coal, soft coal, or 
coal which burns with a bright-yellow flame. Soft coal, 
semibituminotis coal, and hard coal, or anthracite, are the 
three most important varieties of coal. .See ctml. Bitu- 
minous limestone, limestone containing bituminous 
matter. It is of a brown or black color, and when rubbed 
emits an unpleasant odor. That of Dalmatia is so charged 
with bitumen that it maybe cut like soap. Bituminous 
shale, "i- bituminous schist, an argillaceous shak- nun li 
impregnated with bitunu'ii. and very common in various 
geological formations, especially in the Devonian and 
Ixwer Silurian. Before the discovery of petroleum in 
Pennsylvania it was worked to some extent for the pro- 
duction of iiarathn and other useful products. Bitumi- 
nous springs, springs impregnated with petroleum, 
naphtha, etc. 
biunguiculate (bi-ung-gwik'u-lat), a. [< &i-2 
-I- uHfjuiculate.'] Having two claws, or two 
parts likened to claws; ooublv hooked. 
biunity (bl-u'nj-ti), . [< bi-% + unity.] The 
state or mode of being two in one, as trinity 
is the state of being three in one. 
bivious 
biuret (bi'u-ret). . [< bi-* + urea: Bee -uret.] 
A compound (<'..,! l,r,N ;l ( >._. 4- II 2 O) formed by 
exposing urea to :i lii^'h temperature for a long 
time. It forms crystals readily soluble in water 
and alcohol. 
bivalence (bi'va- or biv'a-lens), . In chftn., 
a valence or saturating power which is doable 
that of the hydrogen atom. 
bivalency (bi'va- or biv'a-len-si). n. Same 
as liirttlfiiff. 
bivalent (bi'va- or biv'a-leut), n. [< L. bi-, two-, 
+ i-dli'n(t- )*, having power. Cf. n/ninilent.] 
In I'll/ in., applied to an element an atom of 
which can replace two atoms of hydrogen or 
other urii valent element, or to a radical which 
has the same valence as a bivalent atom. Thus. 
calcium In Its chlorid, Cal'lj, replaces two atoms of hvili.. 
yen in hyilrochloric cid, lli"'l ; the bivalent radical methy- 
len, i 'H.J. In its chlorid, rir.i I L .. shows the saine valence. 
bivalve (bi'valv), a. and n. [= P. bivalve, < L. 
hi-, two-, + rtilra, door, in mod. sense 'valve.'] 
I. a. 1. Having two leaves or folding parts : 
as, a bivalve speculum. 2. In :oiil., having 
two shells united by a hinge. 3. In lot., hav- 
ingtwo valves, as a seed-case. 
II. . If. pi. Folding doors. 2. In zoiil., a 
headless lamellibranch mollusk whose shell has 
two hinged valves, which are opened and shut 
by appropri- 
c xfei ate muscles: 
opposed to 
univalve. In 
rare cam, as 
/'/"</'/-. there are 
also accessory 
valves besides 
the two principal 
mi' f. See cut 
under accfxxurii. 
Familiar exam- 
ples are the 
oyster, scallop, 
mussel, etc. 
These belong to 
tte uluhoiiatc 
division of bi- 
valves ; the clam, 
cob, cockle, ra- 
zor-shell, and 
many others are 
siphonate. The 
Bivalve Shell of Cytksrta cftuntt. 
A, right valve ; fi, left valve ; C, dorsal mar- 
gin : D, ventral margin ; / . anterior side or 
Front margin ; F. posterior side or hinder mar- 
gin : (.. umbo ; //, hinge and hinge-teeth : f. 
cardinal tooth ; x, x, lateral teeth ; 7, ligament, 
ligament pit or groove ; y. lunule; A", anterior 
muscular impression ; /., posterior muscular im- 
pression; ,*/, pallial impression ; .V, abdominal 
impression ; ' '. pallial sinus. 
picklock belongs to the genus I'holas. The ship-worm, 
Teredo, is also technically a bivalve. See lamellibranth. 
3. In hot., a pericarp in which the seed-case 
opens or splits into two parts. Equilateral bi- 
valve. See equilateral. 
bivalved (bl'valvd), a. [< fti-2 + valued. Cf. 
bivalve.} Having two valves. Also bivalvous. 
Bivalvia (bi-val'vi-a), N. pi. [NL., neut. pi. of 
bivalvius, < L. bi-, two-, + tatva, door, in mod. 
sense 'valve.' Cf. bivalve.} A term formerly 
used for all the bivalve shells or lamellibran- 
chiate mollnsks, but now superseded by the 
class names Aeepliala, Conchifera, and Lamelli- 
branchiata. 
bivalvous (bi-val'vun), a. [< bivalve + -OH*.] 
Same as bivalved. 
bivalvular (bi-val'vu-lar), a. [< bivalve, after 
valvular.} Having two valves: said especial- 
ly of the shells of certain mollusks and of the 
seed-vessels of certain plants. See bivalve. 
bivascular (bi-vas'ku-far), a. [< L. bi-, two-, 
+ vtinciilitm, a small vessel ; after vascular.] 
Having two cells, compartments, or vessels. 
bivaulted (bi'val-ted), a. [< fti-2 -f- vaulted.] 
Having two vaults or arches. 
biventer (bi-ven'ter), n. [NL., < L. bi-, two-, 
+ venter, belly.] A muscle of the back of the 
neck, so called from having two fleshy bellies, 
with an intervening tendinous portion. It Is com- 
monly distinguished from other bi ventral or digastric mus- 
cles as the bioenter cervicis. It occurs in man, various 
mammals, birds, etc. Also called bigatter. 
biventral (bi-ven'tral), a. (X hi- 2 + ventral.} 
Digastric ; having two bellies, as a muscle. 
See biventer. 
biverb (bl'verb), H. [< L. bi-. two-, + verbum, 
word.] A name composed of two words. 
biverbal (bi-ver'bal), a. [< 6t-2 + verbal. Cf. 
binrb.] Kelating'to two words ; punning. 
As some stories are said to be too good to IK- true, it may 
with equal troth be asserted of this biarrbal allusion, that 
It is too good to be natural. Lamb, Popular Fallacies. 
bivial (biv'i-al), a. [< L. biriiu (see Wrtotw) 
+ -al. Cf. trivial.} 1. Going in two direc- 
tions. 2. In echinoderms. of or pertaining to 
the bivium: as, the bivial (posterior) ambu- 
lacra. Huxley. 
bivioust (biv''i-us), a. [< L. bivius, having two 
ways, < 6i-, two-, + ri = E. troy.] Having 
two ways, or leading two ways. 
Biviout theorems, and Janus-faced doctrines. 
Sir T. Bnmie, Christ. Mor., IL 3. 
