tempto

Tempto is a Latin verb of the first conjugation meaning to test, try, attempt, or tempt. It is common in classical and late Latin and serves as a basic verb in many texts. The principal parts are temptō, temptāre, temptāvī, temptātum. In present active indicative: temptō, temptās, temptat, temptāmus, temptātis, temptant. Imperfect: temptābam, temptābās, temptābat, temptābāmus, temptābātis, temptābant. Perfect: temptāvī, temptāvistī, temptāvit, temptāvimus, temptāvistis, temptāvērunt. Supine: temptātum. Infinitive: temptāre. Passive forms appear in the passive paradigms as temptor, temptāris, temptātur, temptāmur, temptāminī, temptantur.

Meanings range from “to test” or “to prove” to “to attempt” and “to tempt” or entice. In religious or moral contexts, tempting God is rendered as temptāre Deum, i.e., to tempt God. The verb is closely related to English words such as temptation, attempt, and tempting, all derived from Latin temptātiō and temptāre.

Etymology: temptō is a classical Latin verb likely derived from a Proto-Italic root meaning “to test,” and is cognate with Romance-language verbs such as Italian tentare, French tenter, and Spanish tentar, all carrying senses of trying, testing, or tempting.

In usage, temptō appears across genres, including poetry, rhetoric, and prose, and provides the foundation for many related terms in scholarly and religious vocabulary. See also Latin grammar, Latin verbs, temptātiō.