tempt
Use Tempt in a sentence
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verb (used with object)
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.
Obsolete. to try or test.
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English < Latin temptāre to probe, feel, test, tempt
1175–1225; Middle English < Latin temptāre to probe, feel, test, tempt
Related forms
tempt·a·ble, adjective
pre·tempt, verb (used with object)
self-tempt·ed, adjective
su·per·tempt, verb (used with object)
un·tempt·a·ble, adjective
Synonyms
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.
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Tempt
is one of our favorite verbs.
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| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
| chat, to converse |
Collins
World English Dictionary
tempt (tɛmpt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to attempt to persuade or entice to do something, esp something morally wrong or unwise |
| 2. | to allure, invite, or attract |
| 3. | to give rise to a desire in (someone) to do something; dispose: their unfriendliness tempted me to leave the party |
| 4. | to risk provoking (esp in the phrase tempt fate) |
| [C13: from Old French tempter, from Latin temptāre to test] | |
| 'temptable | |
| —adj | |
| 'tempter | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
tempt
early 13c., from O.Fr. tempter (12c.), from L. temptare "to feel, try out, attempt to influence, test." Tempting in the sense of "inviting" is from 1590s; temptress is from 1590s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
When placed on fishing lines to lure fish, the rods may also tempt turtles to their deaths, a new study says.
Raising interest rates a few points is unlikely to tempt them back.
They tempt governments to splurge with money that may disappear tomorrow.
The best artists may tempt people to buy a whole album.
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