temptationn.
/tɛm(p)ˈteɪʃən/ 1.
a. The action of tempting or fact of being tempted, esp. to evil; enticement, allurement, attraction.Sometimes with more or less approach to senses 2, 3 the temptation (in Theology and Art), that of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew iv, etc.). Also used of those of medieval saints by evil spirits, e.g. ‘The Temptation of St. Anthony’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [noun] > enticement to evil or destruction
temptation1340
the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [noun] > enticement or seduction
temptation1340
seduction1526
seducing1561
inveiglingc1572
seducement1586
the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [noun] > temptation
foundingOE
flattering?c1225
tempting1303
temptation1340
impugnation1398
fanda1400
triala1557
attempt1611
the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [noun] > temptation > satanic temptation
encumbermentc1330
temptation1340
encumbrancea1500
encumber1546
α.
β. 1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys (1835) 9 As for the cardiacle that tentacyoun Betoknyth..Of oure gostly enmye.a1535 T. More Dialoge of Comfort (1553) ii. viii. sig. G.iiiiv The fyrst might we call temtation, the second persecution.so is temptacion tribulacion to a good man.1563 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 120 The guid in the battell throw tentatioun may fall.1650 J. Bulwer Anthropometamorphosis 58 To suffer this tentation from evil spirits.1650 (Scottish) Psalms in Metre xcv. 8 Then harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, As in the desert, on the day of the tentation.1678 G. Mackenzie Laws & Customes Scotl. i. 176 He is more guilty, seing he wants the natural tentation of the Adulterer.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 158 Huanne he [the devil] comþ ine gyse of angle..þanne is þe temptacion mest strang.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 228 Temptaciun.
13.. Matt. vi. 13 in Paues 14th C. Eng. Bibl. Version And ne lede us not in temptacyon.
c1450 Mankind 219 in Macro Plays 9 The temtacyon of þe flesch, ȝe must resyst lyke a man.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. xxvi. f. xxxviijv Watche and praye, that ye fall not into temptacion.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 643 And all temptation to transgress repel. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 364 Seek not temptation then, which to avoide Were better. View more context for this quotation
1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) ii. 13 The temptation to take the stranger with him, was equally great.
1846 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles i. 108 But man is to be perfected, not by being kept out of temptation, but rather by being victorious in temptation.
1877 J. B. Mozley Univ. Serm. (ed. 3) xvi. 271 Old-established rank has the temptation to luxurious indolence and pride.
1887 C. Bell tr. Woltmann & Woermann Hist. Painting II. iii. ii. i. 109 [Martin Schongauer's] well-known plate of the Temptation of S. Antony.
b. With a and plural. An instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [noun] > temptation > instance of
temptationc1230
α.
β. c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 126 Alswa a muche temptatiun. þet is þe feondes bleas.?1555 M. Coverdale tr. Hope of Faythful xvii. 124 Bodely fraile lustes and tentacions.a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1953) VI. 335 Such a measure of grace as shall make me discern a tentation, and resist a tentation.1693 Apol. Clergy Scotl. 43 The many Incumbrances, Tentations, Weaknesses, that we daily encounter.1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian vi, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. IV. 129 When ye are pressed wi' insnaring trials and tentations and heart-plagues.c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 19 Þeo þe beoð i stronge temptatiuns.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xxvi. 6 If temptacyons wax ageynes me.
1493 Chastysing Goddes Chyldern (de Worde) To Rdr. sig. *2v/1 The more knoweng a man hathe, the stronger ben his temptacyons.
1848 F. D. Maurice Serm. Lord's Prayer vii. 91 We shall gain little..by changing that word for ‘trials’, as if every ‘trial’ did not of necessity involve a temptation.
c. Tempting quality, enticingness. rare. ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [noun] > temptation > quality of
temptationc1430
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 108 Lordes and lay~men and spryttualle her gave chase, For her fayer beawté grette temtacyon she hase.
1769 H. Brooke Fool of Quality IV. xvii. 37 The..trees reached forth fruits of irresistible temptation.
d. transferred. A thing that tempts; a cause or source of temptation.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [noun] > temptation > that which
temptation1600
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. ii. 94 Set a deepe glasse of Reynishe wine on the contrarie Casket, for if the deuill be within, and that temptation without, I knowe hee will choose it. View more context for this quotation
1676 J. Dryden Aureng-Zebe v. 69 Dare to be great, without a guilty Crown; View it, and lay the bright temptation down.
1787 R. Burns Poems (new ed.) 146 Ye're aiblins nae temptation.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. i. 17 The command of a permanent military force was a temptation to ambition.
2. The action or process of testing or proving; trial, test. Obsolete or archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > [noun] > trial or probation of a person
temptationc1384
probation1616
ordeala1658
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Macc. ii. 52 Wher [a1425 L.V. Whether] Abraham in temptation was not founden feithful.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. xxvii. 5 The ouen proueth the potters vessell, so doth tentacion of trouble trye righteous men.
1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. Tabil sig. *.viiiv Thair is temptatioun quhairby man temptis God.
1677 R. Gilpin Dæmonol. Sacra i. ix. 71 Temptations are distinguished into Tryals meerly, and Seducements.
1885 Bible (R.V.) Deut. iv. 34 To..take him a nation from the midst of another nation by temptations [so all versions from Wyclif: marg. Or, trials; or, evidences], by signs, and by wonders.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > cause of mental pain or suffering > [noun]
sorrowOE
ail?c1225
scorpion?c1225
dolec1290
angera1325
anguishc1330
cupa1340
aggrievancea1400
discomfortc1405
afflictionc1429
sytec1440
pressurea1500
constraint1509
tenterhook1532
grief1535
annoying1566
troubler1567
griper1573
vexation1588
infliction1590
trouble1591
temptationc1595
load1600
torment1600
wringer1602
sorance1609
inflicting1611
brusha1616
freighta1631
woe-heart1637
ordeala1658
cut-up1782
unpleasure1792
iron maiden1870
mental cruelty1899
c1595 Capt. Wyatt in G. F. Warner Voy. R. Dudley to W. Indies (1899) 43 Theire victuall spent and fresh water consumed, they susteyned a great temptacion.
c1610–15 tr. St. Gregory of Nyssa Life St. Macrina in C. Horstmann Lives Women Saints (1886) 198 Troubles and tentations which I endured by being..driuen out of my contrie.
1652 O. Cromwell Let. 30 June in Writings & Speeches (1939) (modernized text) II. 561 [They] may be too great a temptation to her spirit.
Compounds
temptation-proof, adj., etc.
ΚΠ
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1958) IX. 339 To bring me to thinke my selfe tentation-proofe; above tentation.
1691 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. 197 The Greatness of the Happiness there..will make him Temptation-Proof against any present good or evil.
1889 C. C. Rhys Up for Season 101 I leave without reluctance your temptation-guarded fold.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 30 Oct. 13/3 The champion temptation-resisters.
Derivatives
tempˈtational adj. of the nature of temptation.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > [adjective] > tempting
temptativec1449
tempting1546
temptatious1601
suggestinga1616
temptsome1849
temptational1882
temptive1886
temptatory1900
1882 J. Caldwell in Homiletic Q. Mag. VI. 106/2 The two verbs used here to describe the temptational agency of Lust.
tempˈtationless adj. without temptation, to which there is no temptation.
ΚΠ
1649 H. Hammond Christians Obligations vii. 170 An empty, profitlesse temptationlesse sin.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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