temptation

Dictionary: temp·ta·tion (tĕmp-tā'shən) pronunciation

The act of tempting or the condition of being tempted.
Something tempting or enticing.

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noun

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Definition: lure, attraction
Antonyms: discouragement, dislike, repulsion

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IN BRIEF: The desire to have or do something that you should avoid; enticement.

I deal with temptation by yielding to it. — Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Quotes About:

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Quotes:

"Do not worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older it will avoid you." - Joey Adams

"Temptations, unlike opportunities, will always give you many second chances." - Orlando A. Battista

"He who is not tempted, what does he know? And he who is not tried, what are the things he knows? [Ecclesiasticus]" - Bible

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy Word. Thy Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee. [Psalms 119:9-11]" - Bible

"The force of the blow depends on the resistance. It is sometimes better not to struggle against temptation. Either fly or yield at once." - Francis H. Bradley

"Can a moment of madness make up for an age of consent?" - Basil Bunting

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For other uses, see Temptation (disambiguation).

"Tempter" redirects here. For Nembrionic's debut album, see Tempter (album).

"Tempters" redirects here. For the Japanese musical group, see The Tempters.

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In an iconic image, Eve is tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden

A temptation is an act that looks appealing to an individual. It is usually used to describe acts with negative connotations and as such, tends to lead a person to regret such actions, for various reasons: legal, social, psychological (including feeling guilt), health, economic, etc. Temptation also describes the coaxing or inducing a person into committing such an act, by manipulation or otherwise of curiosity, desire or fear of loss.

Derivation

Though at present used in many non-religious connotations, the term has implications deeply rooted in Judaism and the The Old Testament, starting with the story of Adam and Eve and the original sin. Many non-Western cultures had no precise equivalent until coming into contact with Europeans; for example, Jesuit missionaries in Brazil, translating the Lord's Prayer into Old Tupi, had to use the Portuguese word tentação, since Tupi had no word expressing "temptation" in that sense.

Contemporary use

"Temptation" is usually used in a loose sense to describe actions which indicate a lack of self control.

Temptation is a common recurring theme in world literature. Temptation has repercussions for even the strongest.

"Temptation" is something that allures, excites, and seduces someone. Infatuation can also lead to temptation as someone might do something for love in spite of one's better judgement.
In advertising, "temptation" is a theme common to many of the marketing and advertising techniques used to make products more attractive for purchase by consumers.

External links

Look up temptation, tempter, or temptress in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Temptation

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Translations:

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Temptation

Dansk (Danish)
n. - fristelse

Nederlands (Dutch)
verleidelijkheid, verleiding

Français (French)
n. - tentation

Deutsch (German)
n. - Versuchung, Verlockung, Verführung

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - πειρασμός, πρόκληση

Italiano (Italian)
tentazione

Português (Portuguese)
n. - tentação (f)

Русский (Russian)
соблазн, искушение

Español (Spanish)
n. - tentación

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - frestelse, lockelse

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
诱惑, 诱惑物

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 誘惑, 誘惑物

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 유혹, 유혹의 마수, 광야의 시험

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 誘惑, 誘惑するもの

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) اغواء, اغراء‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮פיתוי, משיכה, דבר מושך‬

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		Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more
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		Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Temptation". Read more
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