tentation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Archaic/Rare)Formal, Literary, Archaic, Theological
Quick answer
What does “tentation” mean?
The act of tempting or being tempted.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of tempting or being tempted; temptation.
An archaic or rare term for temptation, often used in theological or philosophical contexts to denote a trial or test of moral strength. It can also refer to a state of being tempted.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare and archaic in both varieties. No significant regional difference in usage.
Connotations
Carries a formal, old-fashioned, and often religious connotation.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora. More likely to be encountered in 16th-17th century texts or modern works imitating that style.
Grammar
How to Use “tentation” in a Sentence
to resist [the] tentation [of NP]to yield to [the] tentation [to INF]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tentation” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The saint's life was a constant struggle against tentation.
- He wrote a treatise on the nature of tentation and free will.
American English
- The early settlers often preached about the tentations of the frontier.
- The sermon focused on resisting the tentation to abandon one's principles.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, may appear in historical or theological papers discussing concepts of sin and morality.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used in modern technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tentation”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tentation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tentation”
- Using it in modern contexts where 'temptation' is expected.
- Misspelling as 'temptation' (which is correct for the modern word).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is archaic. It is the older form of the modern word 'temptation' and is rarely used except in historical or stylistic contexts.
Always use 'temptation' in contemporary writing and speech. Use 'tentation' only if you are deliberately aiming for an archaic or historically authentic style.
It comes from Middle English 'tentacioun', from Old French 'tentacion', from Latin 'temptationem' (nominative 'temptatio'), meaning 'a trying, testing, temptation'.
No. 'Tentation' is pronounced /tɛnˈteɪʃ(ə)n/ (ten-TAY-shun), while 'temptation' is /tɛmpˈteɪʃ(ə)n/ (temp-TAY-shun). The 'p' sound in 'temptation' is the key difference.
The act of tempting or being tempted.
Tentation is usually formal, literary, archaic, theological in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'tentation' as the older, more formal cousin of 'temptation' – both share the core 'tent-' root related to testing or trying.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEMPTATION IS A FORCE (to be resisted, succumbed to, overcome).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'tentation' be MOST appropriate today?