## Etymology
From Tantalus (Ancient Greek Τάνταλος (Tántalos)) in Greek mythology, who was condemned to Tartarus in the underworld. There, he had to stand for eternity in water that receded from him when he stooped to drink, beneath fruit trees whose branches were always out of reach. Derived as Tantalus + -ize.

## AI Etymology
Tantalize is from Tantalus (Ancient Greek Τάνταλος (Tántalos)) in Greek mythology, who was condemned to Tartarus in the underworld. There, he had to stand for eternity in water that receded from him when he stooped to drink, beneath fruit trees whose branches were always out of reach. Derived as Tantalus + -ize. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern verbal form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include Τάνταλος (Ancient Greek). Current senses include to tease someone by showing or offering something they want but cannot have. The wider family includes related words such as tantalizing.

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