tantalus
/ˈtæntələs/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.09 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A stork of the genus Mycteria (formerly Tantalus), especially the American wood stork, Mycteria americana.
noun
Something of an evasive or retreating nature, something consistently out of reach; a tantalising thing.
Example Sentences
- "Yes, there was a tantalus containing brandy and whisky on the sea-chest."
- "“A small boy, sir. Said I was to be sure and see you got it most particular.” He unlocked a cupboard near the window and produced a tantalus. “Whisky, sir, or cocktail?”"
- "And stockrooms heavy with the Tantalus on which the family fortune has been made"
- "Over all, there brooded the shadow of his injuries and the tantalus of their slow healing."
- "He will not mannage her, although he mount her, / That worse then Tantalus is her annoy"
- "But like still pining Tantalus he sits / And vselesse barnes the haruest of his wits"
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.
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: Tantalus, Τάνταλος