Forms: α. 4– tempt-, 5–7 temt-; β. 3–7 (9 arch.) tent-. [a. OF. temptaciun, -tation (12th c.), tentation (13th c. in Godef., Compl.), ad. L. tempt-, tentātion-em, n. of action from temptāre, tentāre to TEMPT, q.v.]
1. The action of tempting or fact of being tempted, esp. to evil; enticement, allurement, attraction.
(Sometimes with more or less approach to senses 2 and 3.)
The Temptation (in Christian Theol. and Art), that of Jesus in the wilderness (Matt. iv. etc.). Also used of those of mediæval saints by evil spirits, e.g., ‘The Temptation of St. Anthony.’
α. 1340. Ayenb., 158. Huanne he [the devil] comþ ine gyse of angle … þanne is þe temptacion mest strang. Ibid., 228. Temptaciun.
13[?]. Matt. vi. 13, in Paues, 14th C. Eng. Bibl. Version. And ne lede us not in temptacyon.
c. 1450. Mankind, 219, in Macro Plays, 9. The temtacyon of þe flesch, ȝe must resyst lyke a man.
1526. Tindale, Matt. xxvi. 41. Watche and praye that ye fall not into temptacion.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 643. And all temptation to transgress repel. Ibid., IX. 364. Seek not temptation then, which to avoide Were better.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., ii. The temptation to take the stranger with him was equally great.
1846. Trench, Mirac., i. (1862), 112. But man is to be perfected, not by exemption from temptation, but rather by victory in temptation.
1877. Mozley, Univ. Serm., xvi. 271. Old-established rank has the temptation to luxurious indolence and pride.
1887. Clara Bell, trans. Woltmann & Woermann’s Hist. Paint., II. III. II. i. 109. [Martin Schongauer’s] well-known plate of the Templation of S. Antony.
β. 1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 9. As for the cardiacle that tentacyoun Betoknyth … Of oure gostly enmye.
1534. More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1177/2. The first might we cal tentation, the second persecucion…. So is tentacion tribulacion to a good man.
1563. Winȝet, Four Scoir Thre Quest., Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 120. The guid in the battell throw tentatioun may fall.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 58. To suffer this tentation from evil spirits.
1650. (Scottish) Psalms in Metre, xcv. 8. Then harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, As in the desert, on the day of the tentation.
1678. Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., I. xvii. § 6 (1699), 89. He is more guilty, seing he wants the natural tentation of the Adulterer.
b. With a and pl. An instance of this.
α. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 32. Þeo þet beoð ine stronge temptaciuns.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xxvi. 6. If temptacyons wax ageynes me.
c. 1491. Chast. Goddes Chyld., 2. The more knoweng a man hathe the stronger ben his temptacyons.
1848. Maurice, Lord’s Prayer, vii. 91. We shall gain little … by changing that word for ‘trials,’ as if every ‘trial’ did not of necessity involve a temptation.
β. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 246. Al so a muchel tentaciun, þet is þes feondes bles.
c. 1568. Coverdale, Hope Faithf., xvii. (1574), 136. Bodely fraile lustes and tentations.
1625. Donne, Serm., iii. (1640), 22. Such a measure of grace as shall make me discerne a tentation and resist a tentation.
1693. Apol. Clergy Scot., 43. The many Incumbrances, Tentations, Weaknesses, that we daily encounter.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xliii. When ye are pressed wi’ ensnaring trials and tentations and heart-plagues.
c. Tempting quality, enticingness. rare. ? Obs.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 108. Lordes and laymen and spryttualle her gave chase, For her fayer beawté grette temtacyon she hase.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 5. The … trees reached forth fruits of irresistible temptation.
d. transf. A thing that tempts; a cause or source of temptation.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., I. ii. 106. Set a deepe glasse of Reinish-wine on the contrary Casket, for if the diuel be within, and that temptation without, I know he will choose it.
1676. Dryden, Aureng-z., V. ii. Dare to be great, without a guilty crown; View it, and lay the bright temptation down.
1786. Burns, Address to Unco Guid, vi. Ye’re aiblins nae temptation.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. i. 17. The command of a permanent military force was a temptation to ambition.
2. The action or process of testing or proving; trial, test. Obs. or arch.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Macc. ii. 52. Wher [1388 Whether] Abraham in temptation was not founden feithful.
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. xxvii. 5. The ouen proueth the potters vessell, so doth tentacion of trouble trye righteous men.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 21. Thair is temptatioun quhairby man temptis God.
1677. Gilpin, Demonol. (1867), 58. Temptations are distinguished into trials merely, and seducements.
1885. Bible (R. V.), Deut. iv. 34. To … take him a nation from the midst of another nation by temptations [so all versions from Wyclif: marg. Or, trials; or, evidences], by signs, and by wonders.
† 3. A severe or painful trial or experience; an affliction, a trial. Obs.
c. 1595. Capt. Wyatt, R. Dudley’s Voy. W. Ind. (Hakl. Soc.), 43. Theire victuall spent and fresh water consumed, they susteyned a great temptacion.
c. 1610. Women Saints, 198. Troubles and tentations which I endured by being … driuen out of my contrie.
1652. Cromwell, Lett. to Ld. Wharton, 30 June, in Carlyle. [They] may be too great a tentation to her spirit.
4. Comb., as temptation-proof, adj., etc.
a. 1631. Donne, Serm., lx. (1640), 603. To bring me to thinke myselfe tentation-proofe, above tentation.
1691. Norris, Pract. Disc., 197. The Greatness of the happiness there … will make him Temptation-Proof against any present good or evil.
1889. C. C. R., Up for Season, 101. I leave without reluctance your temptation-guarded fold.
1908. Westm. Gaz., 30 Oct., 13/3. The champion temptation-resisters.
Hence Temptational a., of the nature of temptation; Temptationless a., without temptation, to which there is no temptation.
1643. Hammond, Serm., John xviii. 40, Wks. 1683, IV. 513. An empty, profitless, temptationless sin.
1882. J. Caldwell, in Homiletic Q. Mag., VI. 106/2. The two verbs used here to describe the temptational agency of Lust.
