Tempt
/tɛmpt/ verb
verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To provoke someone to do wrong, especially by promising a reward; to entice. transitive
"She tempted me to eat the apple."
- 2 induce into action by using one's charm wordnet
- 3 To attract; to allure. transitive
"Its glossy skin tempted me."
- 4 provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion wordnet
- 5 To provoke something; to court. transitive
"It would be tempting fate."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 try presumptuously wordnet
- 7 dispose or incline or entice to wordnet
- 8 give rise to a desire by being attractive or inviting wordnet
- 9 try to seduce wordnet
Example
More examples"Nothing would tempt me to deceive him."
Etymology
From Middle English tempten, from Old French tempter (French: tenter), from Latin temptare, from tentare (“to handle, touch, try, test, tempt”), frequentative of tendere (“to stretch”). Displaced native English costning (“temptation”).