Temptation
/ˌtɛm(p)ˈteɪʃən/noun
The desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *temptāre*, meaning “to test” or “try,” so in its earliest sense, temptation was less about seduction and more about being put through a trial.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*temp-
“to stretch, press, try”
Latin
Latin
temptāre
“to test, try, probe, assay”
Late Latin
Latin
temptātiō
“a testing, trial; solicitation”
Old French
Old French
temptacion
“trial, enticement, inducement to evil”
Middle English
English
temptacioun
“trial, test; inducement to sin”
Modern English
English
temptation
“the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise”