Tantalus en · PROPN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈtæntələs/
Etymology
From Latin Tantalus, from Ancient Greek Τάνταλος (Tántalos). Doublet of tantalus.
Meanings
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(Greek) 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
1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC:But like still pining Tantalus he sits / And vselesse barnes the haruest of his wits
1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC:
Deriveds
tantalus · tantalize · tantalium · tantalise
Relateds
Translations (11)
it Tantalo (condemned Phrygian king) · la Tantalus (condemned Phrygian king) · ru Та́нтал (condemned Phrygian king) · ka ტანტალოსი (condemned Phrygian king) · pl Tantal (condemned Phrygian king) · grc Τάνταλος (condemned Phrygian king) · pt Tântalo (condemned Phrygian king) · ru Танта́л (condemned Phrygian king) · es Tántalo (condemned Phrygian king) · fr Tantale (condemned Phrygian king) · el Τάνταλος (condemned Phrygian king)