Where does “tantalizing” come from?

Tantalizing comes from English tantalize, which derives from the name Tantalus in Greek mythology, a figure condemned to eternal frustration by inability to reach food and drink.

tantalizing (English): Teasing; tempting, especially that which is...

Definitions

  1. Teasing; tempting, especially that which is...

Ancestry of “tantalizing”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishtantalizeto tease by offering something desirable but...
2EnglishtantalusA stork of the genus Mycteria (formerly Tantalus), especially the American wood stork, Mycteria americana
3LatinTantalusTantalus
4Ancient GreekΤάνταλοςTantalus; {{w|Tantalus}}

Words derived from “tantalizing”

Every word from Ancient Greek Τάνταλος →Every word from Latin Tantalus →Every word from English tantalus →