/ tempt; NAmE / verb tempt sb (into sth / into doing sth)
1.
to attract sb or make sb want to do or have sth, even if they know it is wrong :
[ vn ]
I was tempted by the dessert menu.
Don't tempt thieves by leaving valuables clearly visible.
[ vn to inf ]
I was tempted to take the day off.
2.
to persuade or try to persuade sb to do sth that you want them to do, for example by offering them sth :
[ vn ]
How can we tempt young people into engineering?
[ vn to inf ]
Nothing would tempt me to live here.
•
IDIOMS
- tempt fate / providence
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French tempter to test, from Latin temptare handle, test, try.