Tantalus
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A stork of the genus Mycteria (formerly Tantalus), especially the American wood stork, Mycteria americana.
- 2 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."
- 3 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."
- 1 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. Greek
"He will not mannage her, although he mount her, / That worse then Tantalus is her annoy"
Example
More examples"Tantalus, in spite of his thirst, stopped for a moment his efforts for water, Ixion's wheel stood still, the vulture ceased to tear the giant's liver, the daughters of Danaus rested from their task of drawing water in a sieve, and Sisyphus sat on his rock to listen."
Etymology
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.
From Latin Tantalus, from Ancient Greek Τάνταλος (Tántalos). Doublet of tantalus.
Related phrases
More for "tantalus"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.