noun
- a locked case or stand for holding decanters that are visible but not accessible
- in Greek mythology, a king punished in Tartarus to eternal hunger and thirst with food and water always just out of reach
Usage: mythology
Examples
- The Victorian tantalus displayed fine whiskey and brandy behind locked glass.
- He kept his best spirits in an ornate tantalus to prevent the servants from sampling them.
- The antique tantalus was a centerpiece of the dining room.
- Like Tantalus reaching for fruit, she could see the books but couldn’t access the locked library.
- The myth of Tantalus explains the origin of the word ‘tantalize’.
- Tantalus was condemned to eternal torment for his crimes against the gods.