TEMPT • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Tempt

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/tɛmpt/ Listen

verb

Tempt v. t. (past & past part. tempted; pres. part. tempting)

To put to trial; to prove; to test; to try. "God did tempt Abraham." "Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God."

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."

To endeavor to persuade; to induce; to invite; to incite; to provoke; to instigate. "Tempt not the brave and needy to despair." "Nor tempt the wrath of heaven's avenging Sire."

To endeavor to accomplish or reach; to attempt. "Ere leave be given to tempt the nether skies."

Synonyms: To entice; allure; attract; decoy; seduce.

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Etymology of 'Tempt'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Tempt" Quotes from Famous Books

... your crushed spirit as beyond the nature, the endurance of woman to bear, resolve to bear them; fall down upon your knees, and pray to be enabled to bear them—pray for patience—pray for strength to resist the demon that would tempt you to escape; bear unto death, rather than forfeit your fair name and your good conscience; for be assured that the alternative, if you do rush on to it, will be ...

— East Lynne • Mrs. Henry Wood

... moment, and his honest heart recoiled from the thought: not even for Lady Florimel could he consent to be the son of that woman! Yet the thought, especially in Lady Florimel's presence, would return, would linger, would whisper, would tempt. ...

— Malcolm • George MacDonald

... precisely so with our cuffs and collars. We sell them so cheaply that some people wear three or four a day, while a careful person would make one suffice. When the collar was attached to the shirt, it served for a much longer time; what but cheapness and convenience can tempt to such wastefulness now? My family, at least the female portion, use these articles about as extravagantly, and I think your whole sex must be equally fond of indulging in the same lavish use of them,—otherwise the ...

— The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 15, No. 90, April, 1865 • Various

... at foot; tempt him with speed abroad, Delay it not; I'll have him hence to-night; Away! for everything is sealed and done That else leans on the affair; ...

— Shakspere, Personal Recollections • John A. Joyce

... She tried to tempt the poor gaunt cat into her arms, meaning to carry it home and befriend it; but it was scared by her endeavour and ran back to its home in the outhouse, making a green path across the white dew of the meadow. Then Sylvia began to hasten home, thinking, and remembering—at the stile that led ...

— Sylvia's Lovers, Vol. III • Elizabeth Gaskell

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