Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   Tempt

   /tem(p)t/

   

   verb

   • 1. entice or attempt to entice (someone) to do or acquire something that they find attractive but know to be wrong or not beneficial: "there'll always be someone tempted by the rich pickings of poaching" Similar enticepersuadeconvinceinveigleinducecajolecoaxwooinformal:sweet-talksmooth-talkOpposite discouragedeterdissuade
   • ▪ have an urge or inclination to do something: "I was tempted to look at my watch, but didn't dare"
   • ▪ attract; allure: "he was tempted out of retirement to save the team"
   • ▪ risk provoking (a deity or abstract force), usually with undesirable consequences: "how is it that ye have agreed together, to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French tempter ‘to test’, from Latin temptare ‘handle, test, try’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. temptability noun
   • 2. temptable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • M

     3

   • P

     3

   • T

     1

   Powered by Oxford Languages

   More Definitions, Word Origin & ScrabbleShow less