Temptatum

Temptatum is a Latin neuter singular perfect passive participle of temptare, meaning “having been tempted” or “having been tested.” It derives from temptare, which means to tempt, test, or attempt, and it shares its formation with related participles such as temptatus (masc.), temptata (fem. or neuter plural), and temptatum (neuter singular). In usage, temptatum agrees with a neuter singular noun and can function adjectivally or, less commonly, as a substantive within a sentence.

In classical Latin, temptatum appears in perfect passive constructions and in phrases referring to a completed action perceived by the subject. The neuter singular form temptatum is used when the governing noun is neuter singular; for example, hoc temptatum est can be rendered “this has been tested.” The other gender and number forms—temptatus and temptata—appear where appropriate to match the subject’s gender and number.

The term is distinct from temptatio, the noun meaning “temptation.” While temptatum can convey the sense of something that has been subjected to testing or temptation, its exact nuance depends on context and the surrounding verbs and nouns.

Translations into English typically render temptatum as “having been tempted” or “having been tested,” depending on whether the sense is seduction/temptation or examination and trial. As with many Latin participles, its primary function is to describe a state or action related to another noun in the sentence.

See also: temptare, temptation, temptatio, Latin participles.