temptabat

Temptabat is a Latin verb form. It is the imperfect active indicative, third-person singular, of temptare, a verb meaning to tempt, test, or attempt. In Latin, the imperfect describes ongoing or repeated past action, so temptabat translates as “he was tempting” or “he used to tempt,” and can also convey “he was attempting” depending on context.

Etymology and form: Temptare belongs to the first conjugation (tempto, temptare, temptavi, temptatum). The imperfect uses the ending -abat attached to the present stem tempt-, yielding temptabat for the third-person singular.

Usage: The sense of temptabat is determined by context. With a direct object in the accusative, it can mean to tempt or lure someone: Temptabat amicum suum. Translation: “He was tempting his friend.” When expressing an attempt, it is often used with an accompanying infinitive or dependent clause to indicate trying to do something: Temptabat facere id = “He was attempting to do that.” In narrative, temptabat may also convey a broader sense of testing or trying a situation.

Related forms: Temptabatur is the imperfect passive/middle voice, meaning “he was being tempted.” Temptare appears in a wide range of contexts, from provoking desire to trying or testing particular actions or situations.

See also: temptare; Latin verb conjugation; imperfect tense; classical Latin usage.