ˈtem(p)t transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English tempten, from Old French tempter, tenter, from Latin temptare, tentare to touch, feel, attack, attempt, urge, excite, tempt; temptare akin to Latin tempus time; tentare from tentus, past participle of tendere to stretch, strive, try — more at temporal , thin
1. : to entice to do wrong by promise of pleasure or gain : allure into evil : seduce
2.
a. obsolete : to put to the test : make trial of : prove
God did tempt Abraham — Gen 22:1(Authorized Version)
b. : to make presumptuous trial of : provoke
you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord — Acts 5:9 (Revised Standard Version)
tempted Providence by driving at excessive speed
c. : to risk the disfavor of (fate or fortune) : incur the chance of loss or injury from (adverse fortune)
3. : to induce to do something : attract or allure to an act : incite , persuade , prompt
laughter that I should be tempted to call ironic — E.K.Brown
tempts him to forget the obvious — A.L.Kroeber
tempted thousands of new commuters into the state — American Guide Series: New Jersey
tempt ed the young man into kissing her — Sherwood Anderson
4. : to venture on : risk the dangers of
tempted the hardships of a strange land
Synonyms: see lure