Syn. — To tease; vex; irritate; provoke. — Tantalize, Disappoint. To disappoint is literally to do away with what was (or was taken to be) appointed; hence the peculiar pain from hopes thus dashed to the ground. To tantalize, a much stronger term, describes a most distressing form of disappointment, as in the case of Tantalus, the Phrygian king. To tantalize is to visit with the bitterest disappointment — to torment by exciting hopes or expectations which can never be realized.
TANTALIZER
Tan"ta*li`zer, n.
Defn: One who tantalizes.
TANTALIZINGLY
Tan"ta*li`zing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a tantalizing or teasing manner.
TANTALUM
Tan"ta*lum, n. Etym: [NL. So named on account of the perplexity and
difficulty encounterd by its discoverer (Ekeberg) in isolating it.
See Tantalus.] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare nonmetallic element found in certain minerals, as tantalite, samarskite, and fergusonite, and isolated as a dark powder which becomes steel-gray by burnishing. Symbol Ta. Atomic weight 182.0. Formerly called also tantalium.
TANTALUS
Tan"ta*lus, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. Ta`ntalos.] (Gr. Myth.)
1. A Phrygian king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst of a lake whose waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head hung branches laden with choice fruit which likewise receded whenever he stretched out his hand to grasp them.
2. (Zoöl.)