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Added 9 October 2026

tempt

/tɛmpt/ verb

In Latin: tentō Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about tempt at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

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

Origin

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”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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