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Webster 1913 Edition

Tempt

Tempt

,
Verb.
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.
God did
tempt
Abraham.
Gen. xxii. 1.
Ye shall not
tempt
the Lord your God.
Deut. vi. 16.
2.
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.
James i. 14.
3.
To endeavor to persuade; to induce; to invite; to incite; to provoke; to instigate.
Tempt
not the brave and needy to despair.
Dryden.
Nor
tempt
the wrath of heaven’s avenging Sire.
Pope.
4.
To endeavor to accomplish or reach; to attempt.
Ere leave be given to
tempt
the nether skies.
Dryden.
Syn. – To entice; allure; attract; decoy; seduce.

Webster 1828 Edition

Tempt

TEMPT

,
Verb.
T.
[L. tento; teneo; Gr. the primary sense is to strain, urge, press.]
1.
To incite or solicit to an evil act; to entice to something wrong by presenting arguments that are plausible or convincing, or by the offer of some pleasure or apparent advantage as the inducement.
My lady Gray tempts him to this harsh extremity.
Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. James 1.
2.
To provoke; to incite.
Tempt not the brave and needy to despair.
3.
To solicit; to draw; without the notion of evil.
Still his strength conceal'd,
Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall.
4.
To try; to venture on; to attempt.
E'er leave be giv'n to tempt the nether skies.
5.
In Scripture, to try; to prove; to put to trial for proof.
God did tempt Abraham. Gen.22.
Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God. Deut.6.

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