tempt

/ˈtem(p)t/

Middle English tempten "to test, incite to sin, attempt," borrowed from Anglo-French tempter, temter, tenter, going back to Latin temptāre, tentāre "to feel, test, examine, attempt, make an assault on, attack" (Late Latin, "to incite to sin"), perhaps frequentative derivative from an Indo-European verbal base *temp- "stretch, extend" (hence, "grope for, feel")

verb

  1. to entice to do wrong by promise of pleasure or gain

  2. to induce to do something

  3. to cause to be strongly inclined

lure entice inveigle decoy tempt seduce mean to lead astray from one's true course. lure implies a drawing into danger, evil, or difficulty through attracting and deceiving. entice suggests drawing by artful or adroit means.

idiom

  1. to do something that is very risky or dangerous

Race car drivers tempt fate every time they race.