Tantalus
See also: tantalus
Translingual
Etymology
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.
Proper noun
Tantalus m
- (obsolete) A taxonomic genus within the family Ciconiidae – certain tropical storks; synonym of Mycteria.
Hyponyms
- (genus): Tantalus loculator, now Mycteria americana – type species
References
- William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “Tantalus”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
- Mycteria on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
- Mycteria on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
English
Etymology
From Latin Tantalus, from Ancient Greek Τάνταλος (Tántalos). Doublet of tantalus.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈtæntələs/
Audio (US): (file)
Proper noun
Tantalus
- (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.
- 1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC:
- He will not mannage her, although he mount her, / That worse then Tantalus is her annoy
- 1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC:
- But like still pining Tantalus he sits / And vselesse barnes the haruest of his wits
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
condemned Phrygian king
Further reading
German
Alternative forms
Etymology
Proper noun
Tantalus m (proper noun, strong, genitive Tantalus)
Derived terms
Further reading
- “Tantalus” in Duden online
- Tantalos on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia de
Latin
Etymology
From Ancient Greek Τάνταλος (Tántalos).
Pronunciation
- (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈtan.ta.ɫʊs]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [ˈtan.ta.lus]
Proper noun
Tantalus m sg (genitive Tantalī); second declension
Declension
Second-declension noun, singular only.
| singular | |
|---|---|
| nominative | Tantalus |
| genitive | Tantalī |
| dative | Tantalō |
| accusative | Tantalum |
| ablative | Tantalō |
| vocative | Tantale |
Derived terms
- Tantaleus
- Tantalides
- Tantalis