Main Entry: Tan·ta·lus

Pronunciation: \ˈtan-tə-ləs\

Function: noun

Etymology: Latin, from Greek Tantalos

Date: 14th century

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