Here's the breakdown:
* Old English: The word "bitten" came from the Old English "bitan," which only had one "t."
* Middle English: During the Middle English period, the spelling of many words changed. In this case, "bitan" became "biten," still with only one "t."
* Modern English: The double "t" emerged in the late 16th or early 17th century. This was part of a broader trend in English spelling to double consonants before certain suffixes, like "-en," to indicate that the preceding vowel was short.
Essentially, the double "t" in "bitten" is a leftover from a time when spelling was more fluid and often based on perceived pronunciation. It doesn't affect the pronunciation of the word; it just reflects its historical journey.