temptavi

Temptavi is the first-person singular perfect indicative active form of the Latin verb temptare, meaning to attempt, to test, or to tempt. It belongs to the first conjugation; the principal parts are tempto, temptare, temptavi, temptatum. As a perfect tense form, temptavi denotes a completed action in the past and is typically translated as "I tried" or "I attempted" in English. Latin narrative commonly uses the perfect for simple past actions, while English may render it with the simple past or present perfect depending on context.

Temptare can also mean to test or to tempt in the sense of entice, with the precise sense determined by context. The related noun temptatio means temptation or trial, and the participle temptatus means "tempted." These forms give rise to other derivatives such as temptator (one who tempts or a tempter) and temptāre-derived compounds found in classical and late Latin texts.

In usage, temptavi appears in classical authors as a straightforward past action. It contrasts with imperfect forms like temptabam, which express ongoing or repeated past action, and with future forms such as temptabo. Latin syntax commonly uses temptavi with direct objects or with infinitives to express the scope of the attempt, or with ut + subjunctive to convey purpose or result. For students and scholars, temptavi exemplifies the -avi perfect active ending characteristic of many first-conjugation verbs.