Tempt

• POS: Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Tempt, v. t. [OE. tempten, tenten, from OF. tempter, tenter, F. tenter, fr. L. tentare, temptare, to handle, feel, attack, to try, put to the test, urge, freq. from tendere, tentum, and tensum, to stretch. See Thin, and cf. Attempt, Tend, Taunt, Tent a pavilion, Tent to probe.].

•  To put to trial; to prove; to test; to try.  [1913 Webster]

  "God did tempt Abraham."  [1913 Webster]

  "Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God."  [1913 Webster]
•  To lead, or endeavor to lead, into evil; to entice to what is wrong; to seduce.  [1913 Webster]

  "Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed."  [1913 Webster]
•  To endeavor to persuade; to induce; to invite; to incite; to provoke; to instigate.  [1913 Webster]

  "Tempt not the brave and needy to despair."  [1913 Webster]

  "Nor tempt the wrath of heaven's avenging Sire."  [1913 Webster]
•  To endeavor to accomplish or reach; to attempt.  [1913 Webster]

  "Ere leave be given to tempt the nether skies."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To entice; allure; attract; decoy; seduce.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Tempt, 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).

Idiom

be tempted to be strongly disposed to (I am tempted to question this).

Derivative

temptable adj. temptability n.

Etymology

ME f. OF tenter, tempter test f. L temptare handle, test, try

THESAURUS

Tempt

allure, appeal, attract, bait, be attractive, becharm, beckon, bewitch, bring, cajole, captivate, carry, carry away, charm, coax, court, dare, decide, decoy, determine, dispose, draw in, draw on, enamor, endear, engage, enlist, enrapture, entice, entrap, fascinate, fetch, get to do, hold in thrall, incline, induce, infatuate, inflame with love, influence, interest, interest in, inveigle, invite, lead, lead on, lure, move, persuade, procure, prompt, provoke, rouse, seduce, solicit, summon, sway, tantalize, tease, tickle, titillate, train, vamp, whet the appetite, woo

ROGET THESAURUS

Tempt

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Essay

VB try, essay, experiment, endeavor, strive, tempt, attempt, make an attempt, venture, adventure, speculate, take one's chance, tempt fortune, try one's fortune, try one's luck, try one's hand, use one's endeavor, feel one's way, grope one's way, pick one's way, try hard, push, make a bold push, use one's best endeavor, do one's best.

Desire

VB desire, wish, wish for, be desirous, have a longing, hope, care for, affect, like, list, take to, cling to, take a fancy to, fancy, prefer, have an eye, have a mind to, find it in one's heart, have a fancy for, set one's eyes upon, cast a sheep's eye upon, look sweet upon, take into one's head, have at heart, be bent upon, set one's cap at, set one's heart upon, set one's mind upon, covet, want, miss, need, feel the want of, would fain have, would fain do, would be glad of, be hungry, have a good appetite, play a good knife and fork, hunger after, thirst after, crave after, lust after, itch after, hanker after, run mad after, raven for, die for, burn to, desiderate, sigh for, cry for, gape for, gasp for, pine for, pant for, languish for, yearn for, long, be on thorns for, hope for, aspire after, catch at, grasp at, jump at, woo, court, solicit, fish for, spell for, whistle for, put up for, ogle, cause desire, create desire, raise desire, excite desire, provoke desire, whet the appetite, appetize, titillate, allure, attract, take one's fancy, tempt, hold out temptation, hold out allurement, tantalize, make one's mouth water, faire venir l'eau a la bouche, gratify desire.