ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Tempt', Synonyms of 'Tempt' & More on 'Tempt'

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

tempt
    v 1: dispose or incline or entice to; "We were tempted by the
         delicious-looking food" [syn: tempt, allure]
    2: provoke someone to do something through (often false or
       exaggerated) promises or persuasion; "He lured me into
       temptation" [syn: entice, lure, tempt]
    3: give rise to a desire by being attractive or inviting; "the
       window displays tempted the shoppers" [syn: tempt,
       invite]
    4: induce into action by using one's charm; "She charmed him
       into giving her all his money" [syn: charm, influence,
       tempt]
    5: try to seduce
    6: try presumptuously; "St. Anthony was tempted in the desert"

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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.
      [1913 Webster]

            God did tempt Abraham.                --Gen. xxii.
                                                  1.
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            Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God. --Deut. vi.
                                                  16.
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   2. To lead, or endeavor to lead, into evil; to entice to what
      is wrong; to seduce.
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            Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his
            own lust, and enticed.                --James i. 14.
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   3. To endeavor to persuade; to induce; to invite; to incite;
      to provoke; to instigate.
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            Tempt not the brave and needy to despair. --Dryden.
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            Nor tempt the wrath of heaven's avenging Sire.
                                                  --Pope.
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   4. To endeavor to accomplish or reach; to attempt.
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            Ere leave be given to tempt the nether skies.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   Syn: To entice; allure; attract; decoy; seduce.
        [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for Tempt:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

allure, appeal, attract, bait, be attractive, becharm, beckon, bewitch, bring, cajole, captivate, carry, carry away, charm, coax, court, dare, decide, decoy, determine, dispose, draw in, draw on, enamor, endear, engage, enlist, enrapture, entice, entrap, fascinate, fetch, get to do, hold in thrall, incline, induce, infatuate, inflame with love, influence, interest, interest in, inveigle, invite, lead, lead on, lure, move, persuade, procure, prompt, provoke, rouse, seduce, solicit, summon, sway, tantalize, tease, tickle, titillate, train, vamp, whet the appetite, woo

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