tempt

tempt: tempt

S3 [tempt] v [T]

[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: tempter, tenter, from Latin temptare, tentare 'to feel, try, tempt']

1.) to try to persuade someone to do something by making it seem attractive

tempt sb into doing sth

▪ The new program is designed to tempt young people into studying engineering.

tempt sb to do sth

▪ It would take a lot of money to tempt me to quit this job.

2.) to make someone want to have or do something, even though they know they really should not

▪ If you leave valuables in your car it will tempt thieves.

be tempted to do sth

▪ I'm tempted to buy that dress.

3.) tempt fate also tempt providence BrE

a) to do something that involves unnecessary risk and may cause serious problems

▪ Fire officials said developers are tempting fate by building deep into the scenic canyons.

b) to say too confidently that something will have a good result, that there will be no problems etc, when it is likely there will be problems

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Synonyms:

Try, test, prove, put to trial / Entice (especially to evil), allure, seduce, decoy, induce, inveigle, persuade, prevail upon, draw on, bring over, lure / Incite, instigate, provoke, incline, dispose, prompt, endeavor to persuade, lead / Attempt, venture on, essay, try

Look at other dictionaries:

tempt — [ tempt ] verb transitive ** 1. ) often passive to make you want to do or have something, especially something that is not good for you: The store windows were lit invitingly, tempting the late shoppers. Do you want another drink? I m tempted. be … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
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 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
tempt´er — tempt «tehmpt», transitive verb. 1. to make or try to make (a person) do something: »The sight of the food tempted the hungry man to steal. SYNONYM(S): lure, inveigle, decoy. 2. to appeal strongly to; attract: »That candy tempts me. SYNONYM( … Useful english dictionary
tempt — ► VERB 1) entice (someone) to do something against their better judgement. 2) (be tempted to do) have an urge or inclination to do. 3) attract; charm. ● tempt fate (or providence) Cf. ↑tempt providence … English terms dictionary
tempt — interj. = timpt 1: Tame akies mirksnyje tempt jį už apykaklės, jis drioks aukštynelkas TS1904,4(Vaižg) … Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language
tempt — [tempt] vt. [ME tempten < OFr tempter < LL(Ec) temptare < L, to try the strength of, urge < IE * temp : see TEMPER] 1. Archaic to test; try 2. to try to persuade; induce or entice, esp. to something immoral or sensually pleasurable 3 … English World dictionary
tempt — index bait (lure), cajole, coax, entice, entrap, interest, inveigle, lure, motivate … Law dictionary
tempt — (v.) early 13c., from O.Fr. tempter (12c.), from L. temptare to feel, try out, attempt to influence, test. Related: Tempted; tempting in the sense of inviting is from 1590s … Etymology dictionary
tempt — v. allure, entice, tantalize, seduce … English contemporary dictionary
tempt — entice, inveigle, *lure, decoy, seduce Analogous words: allure, *attract: *invite, solicit, court, woo: *induce, persuade, prevail, get … New Dictionary of Synonyms

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tempt

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Dictionary of contemporary English

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