# tempt

Pronunciation: say "TEMPT" /tɛmpt/

## Verb

1. To provoke someone into doing wrong, especially by promising a reward or pleasure.
   - Simple: To try to get someone to do something wrong by offering a reward.
   - _Advertisers tempt shoppers into spending more than they ever planned._
   - _The con artist tempted nervous investors with promises of impossible returns._
2. To attract or appeal to someone, making something seem desirable.
   - Simple: To make someone want something because it looks or sounds very nice.
   - _Bargain prices tempt customers to fill their carts well past their budget._
   - _The aroma of fresh bread tempted everyone walking past the bakery._
3. To provoke or invite something, especially danger or misfortune, through one's own actions.
   - Simple: To act in a way that risks bringing on something bad.
   - _Gamblers tempt fate each time they bet their entire savings on one hand._
   - _By skipping the safety checks, the airline tempted disaster._

## Origin

This word comes from Middle English tempten, from Old French tempter, from Latin temptare ("to handle, touch, try, test, tempt"), a form of tendere ("to stretch"). It replaced the native English word costning ("temptation").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/tempt (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).