Tempt

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -É›mpt

Origin

From Old French tempter (French: tenter), from Latin temptare, more correctly tentare ("to handle, touch, try, test, tempt"), frequentative of tenere ("to hold"). Displaced native Old English costning ("temptation").

Full definition of tempt

Verb

1. (transitive) To provoke someone to do wrong, especially by promising a reward; to entice.She tempted me to eat the apple.
2. (transitive) To attract; to allure.Its glossy skin tempted me.
3. (transitive) To provoke something; to court.It would be tempting fate.

Derived terms

• temptation
• tempter
• temptress
• tempt fate
• tempt providence