<B>tantalize, </B>transitive verb, <B>-lized,</B> <B>-lizing.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to torment by keeping some desired thing in sight but out of reach. (SYN) plague, vex. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to tease by holding out hopes that are repeatedly disappointed. <BR> <I>Ex. He tantalized the hungry dog by pretending to feed him.</I> (SYN) plague, vex. noun <B>tantalizer.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="tantalizing">
<B>tantalizing, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> exciting desire, curiosity, or appetite; enticing; tempting; provocative. <BR> <I>Ex. a tantalizing concept. He lives with the tantalizing knowledge that his late father's millions lie just beyond his reach in a Swiss bank (Maclean's).</I> adv. <B>tantalizingly.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="tantalous">
<B>tantalous, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>of or having to do with tantalum. <DD><B> 2. </B>derived from tantalum. <DD><B> 3. </B>containing tantalum, especially with a valence of three. </DL>
<A NAME="tantalum">
<B>tantalum, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a hard, shiny, grayish-white metallic chemical element occurring with niobium in tantalite, columbite, and other rare minerals. It is very resistant to corrosion and is used as an alloy in nuclear reactors and in surgical and dental equipment. </DL>
<A NAME="tantalus">
<B>Tantalus, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Greek Mythology.) a king of Phrygia, son of Zeus and father of Niobe and Pelops, whose punishment in the lower world, for betraying the gods' secrets, was to stand in the river Tartarus up to his chin, under branches of fruit. Whenever he tried to drink or eat, the water or fruit withdrew from his reach, and a rock continually threatened to fall on him. </DL>
<A NAME="tantalus">
<B>tantalus, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>(British.) a rack of decanters which seem free but must be unlocked to be used. <DD><B> 2a. </B>a genus of storks. <DD><B> b. </B>a species of these; wood ibis. adj. <B>tantaluslike.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="tantamount">
<B>tantamount, </B>adjective, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> as much as; equivalent. <BR> <I>Ex. The withdrawal of his statement is tantamount to an apology.</I> <DD><I>v.i. </I> (Obsolete.) to be or become equivalent; amount. </DL>
<A NAME="tantara">
<B>tantara, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a flourish or blast of a trumpet or horn; fanfare. <DD><B> 2. </B>any similar sound. </DL>
<B>tantivy, </B>interjection, noun, pl. <B>-tivies,</B> adverb, adjective, verb, <B>-tivied,</B> <B>-tivying.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><I>interj. </I> full gallop (a cry in hunting). <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a ride at full gallop; rush. <DD><B> 2. </B>a hunting cry when in full gallop. <DD><B> 3. </B>a High Churchman or Tory. <DD><I>adv. </I> adj. at full gallop; headlong. <DD><I>v.i. </I> to ride at full gallop; rush. <BR> <I>Ex. Midnight round-about riders tantivying under the fairylights (Atlantic).</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> to call "tantivy." </DL>
<A NAME="tantmieux">
<B>tant mieux,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (French.) all the better. </DL>
<A NAME="tanto">
<B>tanto, </B>adverb.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Music.) so; so much; too much (used in a direction). </DL>
<A NAME="tantonybell">
<B>tantony bell,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B><B>=handbell.</B> <DD><B> 2. </B>a small church bell. </DL>
<A NAME="tantonypig">
<B>tantony pig,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the smallest pig of a litter. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) a person who follows another slavishly. <BR> <I>Ex. To see you dangling after me everywhere, like a tantony pig (Isaac Bickerstaffe).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="tantpis">
<B>tant pis,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (French.) all the worse. </DL>
<A NAME="tantra">
<B>tantra</B> or <B>Tantra, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>one of a class of Hindu religious works in Sanskrit, of comparatively late date, related to the puranas, in which mysticism and magic play a great part. <DD><B> 2. </B>one of a class of Buddhist works of a somewhat similar character. </DL>
<A NAME="tantric">
<B>tantric</B> or <B>Tantric, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with the tantras. </DL>
<A NAME="tantrism">
<B>tantrism</B> or <B>Tantrism, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the doctrines or teachings of the tantras. <BR> <I>Ex. What is marginal in Indian tradition--mantra, mandala, pilgrimage and circumambulation--is focal in Tantrism (Listener).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="tantrist">
<B>tantrist</B> or <B>Tantrist, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an adherent or follower of tantrism. </DL>
<A NAME="tantrum">
<B>tantrum, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a fit of bad temper or ill humor intended to get what one wants. <BR> <I>Ex. The spoiled child had a tantrum whenever she did not get her own way.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="tantrumy">
<B>tantrumy, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> given to tantrums; characterized by fits of bad temper. <BR> <I>Ex. tantrumy behavior, a tantrumy child.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="tantumergo">
<B>Tantum Ergo,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the hymn of Saint Thomas Aquinas, "Pange lingua gloriosi Corporis mysterium." <DD><B> 2. </B>the last two stanzas, sung at Benediction. <DD><B> 3. </B>a setting of these. </DL>
<A NAME="tanyard">
<B>tanyard, </B>noun. <B>=tannery.</B></DL>
<A NAME="tanzanian">
<B>Tanzanian, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of or having to do with the republic of Tanzania (formed in 1964 by the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar) or its people. <DD><I>noun </I> a native or inhabitant of Tanzania. </DL>
<A NAME="tanzanite">
<B>tanzanite, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a semiprecious gemstone, a blue variety of zoisite, found in northern Tanzania. </DL>
<A NAME="tao">
<B>Tao, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>(in Taoism) the moving force of the universe. <DD><B> 2. </B>(in Confucianism) the path of virtue or righteousness; the ideal way of life. </DL>
<A NAME="taoiseach">
<B>taoiseach, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a prime minister of Ireland. </DL>
<A NAME="taoism">
<B>Taoism, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>one of the main religions of China, founded on the principles of the ancient philosopher Lao Tzu. Taoism teaches natural simplicity and humility as a way to peace and harmony in life. <DD><B> 2. </B>the system of philosophy on which this religion was based. </DL>
<A NAME="taoist">
<B>Taoist, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> a believer in Taoism. <DD><I>adj. </I> of or having to do with Taoists or Taoism. </DL>
<A NAME="taoistic">
<B>Taoistic, </B>adjective. <B>=Taoist.</B></DL>
<A NAME="taos">
<B>Taos, </B>noun, pl. <B>-os.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a member of an American Indian tribe living in New Mexico. <DD><B> 2. </B>the Tanoan language of this tribe. </DL>
