Lexic.us

Definition of Tantalus

1. Noun. (Greek mythology) a wicked king and son of Zeus; condemned in Hades to stand in water that receded when he tried to drink and beneath fruit that receded when he reached for it.

Definition of Tantalus

1. n. 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.

Definition of Tantalus

1. Proper noun. (Greek mythology) 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. ¹

2. Noun. A stork of the genus ''Mycteria'' (formerly ''Tantalus''), especially the American wood ibis, ''Mycteria americana''. ¹

3. Noun. A stand in which to lock up drink decanters while keeping them visible. ¹

4. Noun. Something of an evasive or retreating nature, something consistently out of reach; a tantalising thing. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Tantalus

1. a case for wine bottles [n -ES]

Medical Definition of Tantalus

1. 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. A genus of wading birds comprising the wood ibises. Tantalus's cup, a philosophical toy, consisting of a cup, within which is the figure of a man, and within the figure a siphon, the longer arm of which passes down through the bottom of the cup, and allows the escape of any liquid that may be poured in, when it reaches as high as the bend of the siphon, which is just below the level of the mouth of the figure in the cup. Origin: L, from Gr. Tantalos. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Tantalus

Literary usage of Tantalus

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge by Charles Knight (1842)
"Cuvier places the genus Tantalus between the Open- beaks (Hians, ... He notices the following species : the American Tantalus, Tantalus ..."

2. A Dictionary of Science, Literature, & Art: Comprising the Definitions and by George William Cox (1867)
"Tantalus lives in a golden palace forth on his ill-starred journey. ... $>•_ lik" Tantalus, the sun may look on the from of the earth or on the clear rivers ..."

3. Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge by Charles Knight (1842)
"Of Tantalus Ibis, he remarks that it is white slightly clouded with purple on the wings, with a yellow beak, and the skin of the face naked and red, ..."

4. The Mythology and Fables of the Ancients, Explain'd from History by Banier (Antoine) (1739)
"This Theft is a Point of Mythology not much known: And indeed the common Opinion is, that Tantalus fuf- fers in Hell for having ..."

5. Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age by William Ewart Gladstone (1858)
"We are to remember that Homer has nowhere asserted the connection between Pelops and Tantalus, or between Tantalus and Phrygia. ..."

6. Elementary Treatise on Natural Philosophy by Augustin Privat-Deschanel (1884)
"Vase of Tantalus. TTl/ HA' = (H - h) (L - h sec a), whence L = It see a + =-T — -,. ... Cup of Tantalus. — The siphon may be employed to produce the ..."

Other Resources: