Tan"nic (?), a. Of or pertaining to tan; derived from, or resembling,
tan; as, tannic acid.
Tannic acid. (Chem.) (a) An acid obtained from nutgalls as a yellow
amorphous substance, C14H10O9, having an astringent taste, and forming
with ferric salts a bluish-black compound, which is the basis of common
ink. Called also tannin, and gallotannic acid. (b) By extension, any
one of a series of astringent substances resembling tannin proper,
widely diffused through the vegetable kingdom, as in oak bark, willow,
catechu, tea, coffee, etc.
Tan"ni*er (?), n. (Bot.) See Tanier.
Tan"nin (?), n. [Cf. F. tannin.] (Chem.) Same as Tannic acid, under
Tannic.
Tan"ning, n. The art or process of converting skins into leather. See
Tan, v. t., 1.
Tan"rec (?), n. (Zoöl.) Same as Tenrec.
Tan"sy (?), n. [OE. tansaye, F. tanaise; cf. It. & Sp. tanaceto, NL.
tanacetum, Pg. atanasia, athanasia, Gr. 'aqanasi`a immortality, fr.
'aqa`natos immortal; 'a priv. + qa`natos death.] 1. (Bot.) Any plant of
the composite genus Tanacetum. The common tansy (T. vulgare) has finely
divided leaves, a strong aromatic odor, and a very bitter taste. It is
used for medicinal and culinary purposes.
2. A dish common in the seventeenth century, made of eggs, sugar, rose
water, cream, and the juice of herbs, baked with butter in a shallow
dish. [Obs.] Pepys.
Double tansy (Bot.), a variety of the common tansy with the leaves more
dissected than usual. — Tansy mustard (Bot.), a plant (Sisymbrium
canescens) of the Mustard family, with tansylike leaves.
Tant (?), n. [Cf. Taint tincture.] (Zoöl.) A small scarlet arachnid.
Tan"ta*late (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of tantalic acid.
Tan*tal"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to tantalum; derived from,
or containing, tantalum; specifically, designating any one of a series
of acids analogous to nitric acid and the polyacid compounds of
phosphorus.
Tan"ta*lism (?), n. [See Tantalize.] A punishment like that of
Tantalus; a teasing or tormenting by the hope or near approach of good
which is not attainable; tantalization. Addison.
Is not such a provision like tantalism to this people?
Josiah Quincy.
Tan"ta*lite (?), n. [Cf. F. tantalite.] (Min.) A heavy mineral of an
iron-black color and submetallic luster. It is essentially a tantalate
of iron.
Tan`ta*li*za"tion (?), n. The act of tantalizing, or state of being
tantalized. Gayton.
Tan"ta*lize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tantalized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Tantalizing (?).] [From Tantalus: cf. F. tantaliser.] To tease or
torment by presenting some good to the view and exciting desire, but
continually frustrating the expectations by keeping that good out of
reach; to tease; to torment.
Thy vain desires, at strife Within themselves, have tantalized thy
life.
Dryden.
Syn. — To tease; vex; irritate; provoke. — Tantalize, Disappoint. To
disappoint is literally to do away with what was (or was taken to be)
appointed; hence the peculiar pain from hopes thus dashed to the
ground. To tantalize, a much stronger term, describes a most
distressing form of disappointment, as in the case of Tantalus, the
Phrygian king. To tantalize is to visit with the bitterest
disappointment — to torment by exciting hopes or expectations which can
never be realized.
Tan"ta*li`zer (?), n. One who tantalizes.
Tan"ta*li`zing*ly (?), adv. In a tantalizing or teasing manner.
Tan"ta*lum (?), n. [NL. So named on account of the perplexity and
difficulty encounterd by its discoverer (Ekeberg) in isolating it. See
Tantalus.] (Chem.) A rare nonmetallic element found in certain
minerals, as tantalite, samarskite, and fergusonite, and isolated as a
dark powder which becomes steel-gray by burnishing. Symbol Ta. Atomic
weight 182.0. Formerly called also tantalium.
Tan"ta*lus (?), n. [L., from Gr. Ta`ntalos.] (Gr. Myth.) 1. A Phrygian
king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst
of a lake whose waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he
attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head hung branches laden
with choice fruit which likewise receded whenever he stretched out his
hand to grasp them.