TEMPT Definition & Meaning

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tempt

[ tempt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral.
to attract, appeal strongly to, or invite:
The offer tempts me.
Synonyms: , , , ,
to render strongly disposed to do something:
The book tempted me to read more on the subject.
to put (someone) to the test in a venturesome way; provoke:
to tempt one's fate.
Obsolete. to try or test.

tempt

/ ��ɛ�� /

verb

to attempt to persuade or entice to do something, esp something morally wrong or unwise
to allure, invite, or attract
to give rise to a desire in (someone) to do something; dispose
their unfriendliness tempted me to leave the party
to risk provoking (esp in the phrase tempt fate )

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Derived Forms

ˈ�ٱ𳾱�ٲ��, adjective
ˈ�ٱ𳾱�ٱ��, noun

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

�ٱ𳾱��a·�� adjective
��·�ٱ𳾱�� verb (used with object)
��-�ٱ𳾱��Ļ� adjective
��p��·�ٱ𳾱�� verb (used with object)
un·�ٱ𳾱��a·�� adjective
�ܲ�·�ٱ𳾱��Ļ� adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of tempt¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English from Latin �ٱ𳾱�� “to probe, feel, test, tempt”

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of tempt¹

C13: from Old French tempter, from Latin �ٱ𳾱�� to test

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Synonym Study

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.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

With showy, lavender-colored flowers and a general “quirky, Dr. Seuss-type look,” as Lewis put it in an email, hikers might be tempted to pose next to it.

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He had a chair removed so he wouldn’t be tempted to sit.

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One might be tempted to give the Republicans the benefit of the doubt on their crusade against “rogue” judges, except for a couple of factors.

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I was once tempted to make a big move to Spain myself.

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That could prove too tempting a challenge to overlook.

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