tempt

tempt: [[t]te̱mpt[/t]]
tempts, tempting, tempted

1) VERB Something that tempts you attracts you and makes you want it, even though it may be wrong or harmful.

[V n into n/-ing] Reducing the income will further impoverish these families and could tempt an offender into further crime...

[V n] It is the fresh fruit that tempts me at this time of year...

[V n with n] Can I tempt you with a little puff pastry?...

[V n to-inf] The fact that she had become wealthy did not tempt her to alter her frugal way of life.

2) VERB If you tempt someone, you offer them something they want in order to encourage them to do what you want them to do.

[V n prep/adv] ...a million dollar marketing campaign to tempt American tourists back to Britain...

[V n prep/adv] Having spent so long at a great club like Rangers, no other Scottish team could tempt him away...

[V n to-inf] Don't let credit tempt you to buy something you can't afford...

[V n into -ing/n] She will be offering a package worth about 40 million dollars, to tempt the rebels into agreeing to disarm.

3) → See also tempted

4) PHRASE: V inflects If someone says that something they say or do is tempting fate or is tempting providence, they mean they are worried that it may cause the good luck they have had so far to end.

As soon as you start to talk about never having played on a losing side, it is tempting fate.

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Synonyms:

Try, test, prove, put to trial / Entice (especially to evil), allure, seduce, decoy, induce, inveigle, persuade, prevail upon, draw on, bring over, lure / Incite, instigate, provoke, incline, dispose, prompt, endeavor to persuade, lead / Attempt, venture on, essay, try

Look at other dictionaries:

tempt — S3 [tempt] v [T] [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: tempter, tenter, from Latin temptare, tentare to feel, try, tempt ] 1.) to try to persuade someone to do something by making it seem attractive tempt sb into doing sth ▪ The new program is… … Dictionary of contemporary English
tempt — [ tempt ] verb transitive ** 1. ) often passive to make you want to do or have something, especially something that is not good for you: The store windows were lit invitingly, tempting the late shoppers. Do you want another drink? I m tempted. be … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
Tempt — Tempt, 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 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
tempt´er — tempt «tehmpt», transitive verb. 1. to make or try to make (a person) do something: »The sight of the food tempted the hungry man to steal. SYNONYM(S): lure, inveigle, decoy. 2. to appeal strongly to; attract: »That candy tempts me. SYNONYM( … Useful english dictionary
tempt — ► VERB 1) entice (someone) to do something against their better judgement. 2) (be tempted to do) have an urge or inclination to do. 3) attract; charm. ● tempt fate (or providence) Cf. ↑tempt providence … English terms dictionary
tempt — interj. = timpt 1: Tame akies mirksnyje tempt jį už apykaklės, jis drioks aukštynelkas TS1904,4(Vaižg) … Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language
tempt — [tempt] vt. [ME tempten < OFr tempter < LL(Ec) temptare < L, to try the strength of, urge < IE * temp : see TEMPER] 1. Archaic to test; try 2. to try to persuade; induce or entice, esp. to something immoral or sensually pleasurable 3 … English World dictionary
tempt — index bait (lure), cajole, coax, entice, entrap, interest, inveigle, lure, motivate … Law dictionary
tempt — (v.) early 13c., from O.Fr. tempter (12c.), from L. temptare to feel, try out, attempt to influence, test. Related: Tempted; tempting in the sense of inviting is from 1590s … Etymology dictionary
tempt — v. allure, entice, tantalize, seduce … English contemporary dictionary
tempt — entice, inveigle, *lure, decoy, seduce Analogous words: allure, *attract: *invite, solicit, court, woo: *induce, persuade, prevail, get … New Dictionary of Synonyms

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tempt

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