Tempt·ing, a. Adapted to entice or allure; attractive; alluring; seductive; enticing; as, tempting pleasures. -- Tempt*ing*ly, adv. -- Tempt*ing*ness, n.
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Tempt v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tempted; p. pr. & vb. n. Tempting.]
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.
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tempting
adj 1: highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire; "an
alluring prospect"; "her alluring smile"; "the voice
was low and beguiling"; "difficult to say no to an
enticing advertisement"; "a tempting invitation" [syn:
alluring, beguiling, enticing]
2: very pleasantly inviting; "a tantalizing aroma"; "a tempting
repast" [syn: tantalizing, tantalising]