Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TEMPT, v.t. [Arm. tempti; L. tento; Fr. tenter; It. tentare; Sp. tentar. It is from the root of L. teneo, Gr. τεινω, and the primary sense is to strain, urge, press.]

1. To incite or solicit to an evil act; to entice to something wrong by presenting arguments that are plausible or convincing, or by the offer of some pleasure or apparent advantage as the inducement. My lady Gray tempts him to this harsh extremity. Shak. Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. James i.
2. To provoke; to incite. Tempt not the brave and needy to despair. Dryden.
3. To solicit; to draw; without the notion of evil. Still his strength conceal'd, / Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. Milton.
4. To try; to venture on; to attempt. E'er leave be giv'n to tempt the nether sky. Dryden.
5. In Scripture, to try; to prove; to put to trial for proof. God did tempt Abraham. Gen. xxii. Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God. Deut. vi.