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tantalizingmore about tantalizing

tantalizing


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  Usage:  {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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  tantalizing 
  adj  1:  arousing  desire  or  expectation  for  something  unattainable  or 
  mockingly  out  of  reach;  "a  tantalizing  taste  of 
  success" 
  2:  very  pleasantly  inviting;  "a  tantalizing  aroma";  "a  tempting 
  repast"  [syn:  {tempting}] 




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