v.tr. (also -ise) 1 torment or tease by the sight or promise of what is unobtainable. 2 raise and then dash the hopes of; torment with disappointment. tantalization n. tantalizer n. tantalizingly adv.
[ Gk Tantalos mythical king of Phrygia condemned to stand in water that receded when he tried to drink it and under branches that drew back when he tried to pick the fruit ]