English Dictionary: Tempt | by the DICT Development Group |
2 results for Tempt | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Tempt \Tempt\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tempted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Tempting}.] [OE. tempten, tenten, from OF. tempter, tenter, F. tenter, fr. L. tentare, temptare, to handle, feel, attack, to try, put to the test, urge, freq. from tendere, tentum, and tensum, to stretch. See {Thin}, and cf. {Attempt}, {Tend}, {Taunt}, {Tent} a pavilion, {Tent} to probe.] 1. To put to trial; to prove; to test; to try. God did tempt Abraham. --Gen. xxii. 1. Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God. --Deut. vi. 16. 2. To lead, or endeavor to lead, into evil; to entice to what is wrong; to seduce. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. --James i. 14. 3. To endeavor to persuade; to induce; to invite; to incite; to provoke; to instigate. Tempt not the brave and needy to despair. --Dryden. Nor tempt the wrath of heaven's avenging Sire. --Pope. 4. To endeavor to accomplish or reach; to attempt. Ere leave be given to tempt the nether skies. --Dryden. Syn: To entice; allure; attract; decoy; seduce. |