tempt

tempt
temptable, adj.
/tempt/, v.t.
1. to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral.
2. to attract, appeal strongly to, or invite: The offer tempts me.
3. to render strongly disposed to do something: The book tempted me to read more on the subject.
4. to put (someone) to the test in a venturesome way; provoke: to tempt one's fate.
5. Obs. to try or test.
[1175-1225; ME < L temptare to probe, feel, test, tempt]
Syn. 1. TEMPT, SEDUCE may both mean to allure or entice to something unwise or wicked. To TEMPT is to attract by holding out the probability of gratification or advantage, often in the direction of that which is wrong or unwise: to tempt a man with a bribe. To SEDUCE is literally to lead astray, sometimes from that which absorbs one or demands attention, but oftener, in a moral sense, from rectitude, chastity, etc.: to seduce a person away from loyalty. 2. inveigle, induce, lure, incite, persuade.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • tempt — S3 [tempt] v [T] [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: tempter, tenter, from Latin temptare, tentare to feel, try, tempt ] 1.) to try to persuade someone to do something by making it seem attractive tempt sb into doing sth ▪ The new program is… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • tempt — [ tempt ] verb transitive ** 1. ) often passive to make you want to do or have something, especially something that is not good for you: The store windows were lit invitingly, tempting the late shoppers. Do you want another drink? I m tempted. be …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Tempt — Tempt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tempted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Tempting}.] [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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tempt´er — tempt «tehmpt», transitive verb. 1. to make or try to make (a person) do something: »The sight of the food tempted the hungry man to steal. SYNONYM(S): lure, inveigle, decoy. 2. to appeal strongly to; attract: »That candy tempts me. SYNONYM( …   Useful english dictionary

  • tempt — ► VERB 1) entice (someone) to do something against their better judgement. 2) (be tempted to do) have an urge or inclination to do. 3) attract; charm. ● tempt fate (or providence) Cf. ↑tempt providence …   English terms dictionary

  • tempt — interj. = timpt 1: Tame akies mirksnyje tempt jį už apykaklės, jis drioks aukštynelkas TS1904,4(Vaižg) …   Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language

  • tempt — [tempt] vt. [ME tempten < OFr tempter < LL(Ec) temptare < L, to try the strength of, urge < IE * temp : see TEMPER] 1. Archaic to test; try 2. to try to persuade; induce or entice, esp. to something immoral or sensually pleasurable 3 …   English World dictionary

  • tempt — index bait (lure), cajole, coax, entice, entrap, interest, inveigle, lure, motivate …   Law dictionary

  • tempt — (v.) early 13c., from O.Fr. tempter (12c.), from L. temptare to feel, try out, attempt to influence, test. Related: Tempted; tempting in the sense of inviting is from 1590s …   Etymology dictionary

  • tempt — v. allure, entice, tantalize, seduce …   English contemporary dictionary

  • tempt — entice, inveigle, *lure, decoy, seduce Analogous words: allure, *attract: *invite, solicit, court, woo: *induce, persuade, prevail, get …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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