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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God. Deut. vi. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To lead, or endeavor to lead, into evil; to entice to what is wrong; to seduce. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. James i. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To endeavor to persuade; to induce; to invite; to incite; to provoke; to instigate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tempt not the brave and needy to despair. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor tempt the wrath of heaven's avenging Sire. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To endeavor to accomplish or reach; to attempt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ere leave be given to tempt the nether skies. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To entice; allure; attract; decoy; seduce. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being temptable; lability to temptation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being tempted; liable to be tempted. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. temptation, tentation, F. tentation, L. tentatio. ] 1. The act of tempting, or enticing to evil; seduction. [ 1913 Webster ]

When the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. Luke iv. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being tempted, or enticed to evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lead us not into temptation. Luke xi. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which tempts; an inducement; an allurement, especially to something evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dare to be great, without a guilty crown;
View it, and lay the bright temptation down. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having no temptation or motive; as, a temptationless sin. [ R. ] Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tempting. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who tempts or entices; especially, Satan, or the Devil, regarded as the great enticer to evil. “Those who are bent to do wickedly will never want tempters to urge them on.” Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

So glozed the Tempter, and his proem tuned. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Adapted to entice or allure; attractive; alluring; seductive; enticing; as, tempting pleasures. -- Tempt"ing*ly, adv. -- Tempt"ing*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A woman who entices. [ 1913 Webster ]

She was my temptress, the foul provoker. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]