DictionaryRoot: -izein
Greek
-izein
make, become, or act in a particular way
Forms
- -izein
- -iz- — The form used before other Greek endings.
Origin
A Greek way of forming verbs, later borrowed into Latin as -izare.
Note
Its descendants became especially useful for forming new verbs in European languages.
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verb
tantalize
TAN-tuh-lyze/ˈtæntəlaɪz/
To tease by offering something desirable but keeping it out of reach.
Etymology
Tantalus was punished with water and fruit that withdrew whenever he tried to drink or eat. To tantalize someone is to recreate that frustration by keeping something desirable just beyond reach.