temptare

Temptare is a Latin verb of the first conjugation meaning to tempt, to test, to try, or to attempt. It is transitive, taking a direct object in the accusative, and occurs in both active and passive voices (the passive infinitive is temptari). In use, it can describe testing someone’s fidelity, trying one’s courage, or provoking the gods, as in phrases such as temptare deos or temptare fidem.

The principal parts of temptare are tempto, temptare, temptavi, temptatum, indicating its regular 1st-conjugation morphology. Its present indicative forms are tempto, temptas, temptat; imperfect forms temptabam, temptabas, temptabat; future forms temptabo, temptabis, temptabit. The perfect active is temptavi, with the passive perfect temptatus sum, temptatus es, etc. The gerund is temptando and the perfect passive participle is temptatus.

Etymology and influence: temptare derives from the Latin root for “to test” or “to try.” The verb is the source of the English words tempt and temptation through the Latin noun temptatio, via later French influence. In classical Latin, temptare is a standard verb encountered across authors and genres, frequently in Moral, rhetorical, or religious contexts where testing, challenging, or provoking is involved.

See also: temptatio; temptation; testing.