temptant

Temptant is a rare English noun and, occasionally, an adjective that denotes something or someone that tempts, or that elicits temptation. In general, a temptant is an agent or stimulus of enticement, distinct from the temptation itself or from a person who tempts (the tempter). The term is largely historical and appears in older philosophical, theological, and moral writings.

Etymology and origin stem from the Latin temptans, the present participle of temptare, meaning "testing, trying." Through Old French and early modern English usage, temptant came to describe enticement as a force or influence.

Usage and contexts include scholastic theology and moral philosophy, where temptants were described as the various enticements—wealth, power, sensual pleasure—that press upon the will. In literature, the word sometimes appears to personify enticement as an entity rather than simply as temptation, though such usage is uncommon today.

Modern status: temptant is rarely used and is generally considered archaic or niche. Contemporary writers typically employ temptation, enticement, or tempter to convey the same ideas. Some dictionaries mark temptant as historical vocabulary with limited, specialized usage in studies of older texts or particular linguistic analyses.