Wordiyotempt
LatinVariants
Related Roots
About This Root
From Latin temptāre/tentāre (to feel, try, test, entice). The meaning ranges from neutral testing to moral enticement: attempt (to try), tempt (to entice), temptation, tentative (done as a test), and tentacle (a "feeler" that tests by touch). The semantic drift from "test" to "lure" reflects the fine line between testing and teasing.
Associated Words
attempt
To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt; The action of trying at something
attempts
Efforts to accomplish something; to try to do something
taunt
To mock or jeer at someone; a scornful remark
tempt
To entice or attract someone toward something, especially something wrong
temptation
A strong desire to do something one should avoid; something that entices
tempting
Attractive and hard to resist; enticing
tentacle
A flexible limb of an animal like an octopus; an insidious influence
tentative
Not definite or certain; done hesitantly or experimentally