tantalus
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tantalus¹
- /ˈtæntələs/
Where it comes from
From Latin Tantalus, from Ancient Greek Τάνταλος (Tántalos, “Tantalus”), a Phrygian king in Greek mythology who was condemned to stand in a pool of water which receded every time he tried to drink, and with overhanging branches of fruit which pulled back whenever he tried to eat. Doublet of Tantalus.
noun tantaluses
- A stork of the genus Mycteria (formerly Tantalus), especially the American wood stork, Mycteria americana.
- A stand in which to lock up drink decanters while keeping them visible. Yes, there was a tantalus containing brandy and whisky on the sea-chest.
- Something of an evasive or retreating nature, something consistently out of reach; a tantalising thing. Over all, there brooded the shadow of his injuries and the tantalus of their slow healing.
Tantalus²
- /ˈtæntələs/
Where it comes from
From Latin Tantalus, from Ancient Greek Τάνταλος (Tántalos). Doublet of tantalus.
proper noun
- A Phrygian king who was condemned to remain in Tartarus, chin-deep in water, with fruit-laden branches hanging above his head; whenever he tried to drink or eat, the water and fruit receded out of reach. He will not mannage her, although he mount her, / That worse then Tantalus is her annoy
Translations
Talk about this word "tantalus." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/tantalus. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. tantalus. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/tantalus "tantalus." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/tantalus.Cite this
@misc{tantalus_2026,
title = {tantalus},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/tantalus},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
