First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
Tantalus
noun Tan·ta·lus \ˈtan-tə-ləs\
Definition of TANTALUS
1
: a legendary king of Lydia condemned to stand up to the chin in a pool of water in Hades and beneath fruit-laden boughs only to have the water or fruit recede at each attempt to drink or eat
2
not capitalized : a locked cellarette with contents visible but not obtainable without a key
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Origin of TANTALUS
Latin, from Greek Tantalos
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