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Webster 1913 Edition


Temptation

Temp-ta′tion

,
Noun.
[OF.
temptation
,
tentation
, F.
tentation
, L.
tentatio
.]
1.
The act of tempting, or enticing to evil; seduction.
When the devil had ended all the
temptation
, he departed from him for a season.
Luke iv. 13.
2.
The state of being tempted, or enticed to evil.
Lead us not into
temptation
.
Luke xi. 4.
3.
That which tempts; an inducement; an allurement, especially to something evil.
Dare to be great, without a guilty crown;
View it, and lay the bright
temptation
down.
Dryden.

Webster 1828 Edition


Temptation

TEMPTA'TION

,
Noun.
The act of tempting; enticement to evil by arguments, by flattery, or by the offer of some real or apparent good.
When the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. Luke 4.
1.
Solicitation of the passions; enticements to evil proceeding from the prospect of pleasure or advantage.
2.
The state of being tempted or enticed to evil. When by human weakness you are led into temptation, resort to prayer for relief.
3.
Trial.
Lead us not into temptation.
4.
That which is presented to the mind as an inducement to evil.
Dare to be great without a guilty crown,
View it, and lay the bright temptation down.
5.
In colloquial language, an allurement to any thing indifferent, or even good.

Definition 2024


temptation

temptation

English

Noun

temptation (plural temptations)

  1. The act of tempting
  2. The condition of being tempted.
  3. Something attractive, tempting or seductive; an inducement or enticement.
    • 1762, Charles Johnstone, The Reverie; or, A Flight to the Paradise of Fools, volume 2, Dublin: Printed by Dillon Chamberlaine, OCLC 519072825, page 202:
      At length, one night, when the company by ſome accident broke up much ſooner than ordinary, ſo that the candles were not half burnt out, ſhe was not able to reſiſt the temptation, but reſolved to have them ſome way or other. Accordingly, as ſoon as the hurry was over, and the ſervants, as ſhe thought, all gone to ſleep, ſhe ſtole out of her bed, and went down ſtairs, naked to her ſhift as ſhe was, with a deſign to ſteal them []
  4. Pressure applied to your thinking designed to create wrong emotions which will eventually lead to wrong actions.

Derived terms

Translations

See also