English Explanatory Dictionary

tempt

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To provoke someone to do wrong, especially by promising a reward; to entice.
  2. To attract; to allure.
  3. To provoke something; to court.

Pronunciation

/tɛmpt/ /tɛmt/ en-us-tempt.ogg

Word forms

tempt tempts tempting tempted

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”).

Synonyms

entice fand lure pander tease beguile entrance allure arrest attract becharm bewitch beckon captivate charm court delight draw effascinate enchant engage enthrall enrapture fascinate forspeak hypnotize interest intrigue mesmerize pull pull in seduce sirenize spellbind tempt tole foment urge abet actuate goose light a fire under send sting bring about cheer drive encourage egg on engender evoke excite goad grill ignite impel incite induce inflame instigate

Derived words

attempt temptation tempter tempt fate temptful temptless temptly tempt providence temptress temptsome temptuous

Translations

Bulgarian: провокирам Catalan: temptar Dutch: uitlokken Finnish: härnätä Hungarian: kísért Hungarian: kihív Polish: judzić Polish: podjudzić Russian: провоци́ровать Russian: спровоци́ровать Scottish Gaelic: buair Telugu: రెచ్చగొట్టు Turkish: kışkırtmak
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