Tantalate to Tarantula
Tantalate
(Tan"ta*late) n. (Chem.) A salt of tantalic acid.
Tantalic
(Tan*tal"ic) a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to tantalum; derived from, or containing, tantalum; specifically,
designating any one of a series of acids analogous to nitric acid and the polyacid compounds of phosphorus.
Tantalism
(Tan"ta*lism) n. [See Tantalize.] A punishment like that of Tantalus; a teasing or tormenting
by the hope or near approach of good which is not attainable; tantalization. Addison.
Is not such a provision like tantalism to this people?
Josiah Quincy. Tantalite
(Tan"ta*lite) n. [Cf. F. tantalite.] (Min.) A heavy mineral of an iron-black color and submetallic
luster. It is essentially a tantalate of iron.
Tantalization
(Tan`ta*li*za"tion) n. The act of tantalizing, or state of being tantalized. Gayton.
Tantalize
(Tan"ta*lize) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tantalized ; p. pr. & vb. n. Tantalizing ] [From Tantalus: cf.
F. tantaliser.] To tease or torment by presenting some good to the view and exciting desire, but continually
frustrating the expectations by keeping that good out of reach; to tease; to torment.
Thy vain desires, at strife
Within themselves, have tantalized thy life.
Dryden. Syn. — To tease; vex; irritate; provoke. — Tantalize, Disappoint. To disappoint is literally to do away
with what was (or was taken to be) appointed; hence the peculiar pain from hopes thus dashed to the
ground. To tantalize, a much stronger term, describes a most distressing form of disappointment, as in
the case of Tantalus, the Phrygian king. To tantalize is to visit with the bitterest disappointment — to
torment by exciting hopes or expectations which can never be realized.
Tantalizer
(Tan"ta*li`zer) n. One who tantalizes.
Tantalizingly
(Tan"ta*li`zing*ly) adv. In a tantalizing or teasing manner.
Tantalum
(Tan"ta*lum) n. [NL. So named on account of the perplexity and difficulty encounterd by its
discoverer (Ekeberg) in isolating it. See Tantalus.] (Chem.) A rare nonmetallic element found in certain
minerals, as tantalite, samarskite, and fergusonite, and isolated as a dark powder which becomes steel-
gray by burnishing. Symbol Ta. Atomic weight 182.0. Formerly called also tantalium.
Tantalus
(Tan"ta*lus) n. [L., from Gr. Ta`ntalos.] (Gr. Myth.)
1. A Phrygian king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst of a lake whose
waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head
hung branches laden with choice fruit which likewise receded whenever he stretched out his hand to
grasp them.
2. (Zoöl.) A genus of wading birds comprising the wood ibises.
Tantalus's cup (Physics), a philosophical toy, consisting of a cup, within which is the figure of a man,
and within the figure a siphon, the longer arm of which passes down through the bottom of the cup,
and allows the escape of any liquid that may be poured in, when it reaches as high as the bend of the
siphon, which is just below the level of the mouth of the figure in the cup.
Tantamount
(Tan"ta*mount`) a. [F. tant so much (L. tantus) + E. amount.] Equivalent in value, signification,
or effect.
A usage nearly tantamount to constitutional right.
Hallam.
The certainty that delay, under these circumstances, was tantamount to ruin.
De Quincey.
