tantalization

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

tantalization
    n 1: the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously
         (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent
         annoyances; "he ignored their teases"; "his ribbing was
         gentle but persistent" [syn: {tease}, {teasing}, {ribbing},
         {tantalization}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Tantalization \Tan`ta*li*za"tion\, n.
   The act of tantalizing, or state of being tantalized.
   --Gayton.
   [1913 Webster]