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

1. (obsolete) Mycteria, the genus of certain storks.

Hyponyms

• (genus): Tantalus loculator, now Mycteria americana

References

• “Tantalus”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• Mycteria on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Mycteria on Wikispecies.Wikispecies

English

Etymology

Latin Tantalus, from Ancient Greek Τάνταλος (Tántalos).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtæntələs/

Proper noun

Tantalus

1. (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.

Derived terms

• tantalize
• tantalus

Related terms

• tantalum

Translations

Further reading

• Tantalus on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

German

Alternative forms

• Tantalos

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin Tantalus.

Proper noun

Tantalus m (proper noun, strong, genitive Tantalus)

1. (Greek mythology) Tantalus

Derived terms

• Tantalusqualen

Further reading

• “Tantalus” in Duden online
• Tantalos on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^de

Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Τάνταλος (Tántalos).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈtan.ta.lus/,
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈtan.ta.lus/,

Proper noun

Tantalus m sg (genitive Tantalī); second declension

1. (Greek mythology) Tantalus

Declension

Second-declension noun, singular only.

Derived terms

• Tantaleus
• Tantalides
• Tantalis