Middle English Dictionary Entry
tempting(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | tempting(e ger. Also tenting. |
| Etymology | From tempten v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The act of testing the faith or character of a person; also, a means of such testing; (b) the testing of God's forbearance or power; also, an instance of it; (c) the name given by Moses to the place where the Israelites tested God.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.27.8 : As þe erþe werching of a tree shewith þe frute of hym, so a woord of thenking þe herte of a man; beforn a woord ne preise þou a man; þat forsoþe tempting is of men.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.33.1 : To þe dredinge god, euelis shul not meeten; but in tempting, god shal kepen hym.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)18a/a : As a good angel is I-ȝeue to men for help and kepinge, so euery man hath an euel angel to assailinge & temptinge.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.6.16 : Þou shalt not tempte þe lord..as þou hast tempted in þe place of temptynge.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.94.9 : If his vois ȝee han herd, wileþ not aȝeen hardne ȝoure hertis As in þe terringe after þe dai of tempting in desert.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.111 : God dide no wronge to man ȝif he dampnede man for synne..and ȝif his temptynge were never so stronge.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.61 : Temptyng of God is asayȝyngge of his excellencye.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.17.7 : He clepe þe name of þat place temptyng..for þei temptiden þe lord, saying, 'wheþer is god in us or none?'
2.
(a) The act or condition of being tempted by the devil, fleshly desires, etc.; (b) an instance of tempting a person to sin or being tempted; (c) ?the source or agent of temptation of the soul.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)8426 : Many a gode man..haþ be yn flesshely temptyng.
- 1425(a1400) Spec.Chr.(1) (Lnsd 344)157/2 : In þe world what ellis se we but wrechidnesse and vanite..A place it is of temptinge, of gret oppression.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)46/28 : Prudence..es necessarie a-ȝeyne temptynge of the deuyl.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)8284 : Ȝyf þou be of clene lyfe, Þar þe noght drede..temptyng of þe deuylys shaft; And ȝyf þou be yn dedly synne, To hys temptyng he may þe wynne.
- c1429 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)4076 : The temptyngs of the werld ere many one & fulle varie.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)243/81 : Euelle spiritis is neghand full nere, That will ȝou tarie at þis tyme with his tentyng.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)8701 : If a thing falle in þi þoght And þou woost þat it is noght, And þou haue þerto greet wille In dede it to fulfille, Torne þi þoght in þat tempting And fonde to þinke som good þing.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Wisd.14.11 : Þe creatures of god in to hate ben maad, & tempting to þe soule of men.