from a root pik, meaning "to cut, to prick," hence, lit., "pointed, sharp, keen, pungent to the sense of taste, smell, etc.," is found in James 3:11,14 . In ver. 11 it has its natural sense, with reference to water; in ver. 14 it is used metaphorically of jealousy, RV.
related to A, signifies, in the Active Voice, "to be bitter," Colossians 3:19 , or "to embitter, irritate, or to make bitter," Revelation 10:9; the Passive Voice, "to be made bitter," is used in Revelation 8:11; 10:10 .
denotes "bitterness." It is used in Acts 8:23 , metaphorically, of a condition of extreme wickedness, "gall of bitterness" or "bitter gal;" in Romans 3:14 , of evil speaking; in Ephesians 4:31 , of "bitter" hatred; in Hebrews 12:15 , in the same sense, metaphorically, of a root of "bitterness," producing "bitter" fruit.
"bitterly," is used of the poignant grief of Peter's weeping for his denial of Christ, Matthew 26:75; Luke 22:62 .
Note: In the Sept., pikros (not in the NT), "a bitter herb," is used in Exodus 12:8; Numbers 9:11 .