v.
- entice (someone) to do something against their better judgement.
- persuade (someone) to do something; attract.
- archaic risk provoking (a deity or abstract force).
Phrase
- tempt fate
(or providence)
do something risky or dangerous.
Derivative
- temptability n.
- temptable adj.
- tempting adj.
- temptingly adv.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. tempter ‘to test’, from L. temptare ‘handle, test, try’.