v.tr.
1. entice or incite (a person) to do a wrong or forbidden thing (tempted him to steal it).
2 allure, attract.
3 risk provoking (esp. an abstract force or power) (would be tempting fate to try it).
4 archaic make trial of; try the resolution of (God did tempt Abraham).
Phrases and idioms:
be tempted to be strongly disposed to (I am tempted to question this).
Derivatives:
temptable adj. temptability n.
Etymology: ME f. OF tenter, tempter test f. L temptare handle, test, try