Past tense of tempt; having been enticed or attracted to do something, often something inadvisable or forbidden.
From Latin 'temptare' meaning 'to test, try, or touch', which evolved through Old French 'tempter' into Middle English. The religious connotation of moral testing developed early, influenced by biblical usage where temptation represents a trial of faith or virtue.
The word 'tempted' carries the fascinating duality of desire and restraint - to be tempted implies both attraction and the possibility of resistance. Neuroscience shows that temptation activates the same reward circuits as addiction, explaining why we say we're 'tempted' by chocolate with the same intensity as more serious moral choices.
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