tempting

[ temp-ting ]
/ ˈtɛmp tɪŋ /

adjective

that tempts; enticing or inviting.

Origin of tempting

First recorded in 1540–50; tempt + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM tempting

tempt·ing·ly, adverb tempt·ing·ness, noun un·tempt·ing, adjective un·tempt·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for tempting (2 of 2)

tempt
[ tempt ]
/ tɛmpt /

verb (used with object)

to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral.
to attract, appeal strongly to, or invite: The offer tempts me.
to render strongly disposed to do something: The book tempted me to read more on the subject.
to put (someone) to the test in a venturesome way; provoke: to tempt one's fate.
Obsolete. to try or test.

Origin of tempt

1175–1225; Middle English < Latin temptāre to probe, feel, test, tempt

SYNONYMS FOR tempt

1 Tempt, seduce may both mean to allure or entice to something unwise or wicked. To tempt is to attract by holding out the probability of gratification or advantage, often in the direction of that which is wrong or unwise: to tempt a man with a bribe. To seduce is literally to lead astray, sometimes from that which absorbs one or demands attention, but oftener, in a moral sense, from rectitude, chastity, etc.: to seduce a person away from loyalty.
2 inveigle, induce, lure, incite, persuade.

OTHER WORDS FROM tempt

Example sentences from the Web for tempting

British Dictionary definitions for tempting (1 of 2)

tempting
/ (ˈtɛmptɪŋ) /

adjective

attractive or inviting a tempting meal

Derived forms of tempting

temptingly, adverb temptingness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for tempting (2 of 2)

tempt
/ (tɛmpt) /

verb (tr)

to attempt to persuade or entice to do something, esp something morally wrong or unwise
to allure, invite, or attract
to give rise to a desire in (someone) to do something; dispose their unfriendliness tempted me to leave the party
to risk provoking (esp in the phrase tempt fate)

Derived forms of tempt

temptable, adjective tempter, noun

Word Origin for tempt

C13: from Old French tempter, from Latin temptāre to test