n. 1 a the act or an instance of tempting; the state of being tempted; incitement esp. to wrongdoing. b (the Temptation) the tempting of Christ by the Devil (see Matt. 4). 2 an attractive thing or course of action. 3 archaic putting to the test.
[ ME f. OF tentacion, temptacion f. L temptatio -onis (as TEMPT) ]