Etymologically
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temptatio

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [tɛmpˈtaː.ti.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [tempˈtat.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

temptātiō f (genitive temptātiōnis); third declension[1] Also spelt tentātiō.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from Latin temptō (“to handle, test, try”) + -tiō.[4][1][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Cicero, who writes to Atticus of fresh attacks of an illness (novae temptationes).[4][6][7]

Semantic evolution

Livy uses it for an attempt and for a hostile attempt or attack.[4][8] In Christian Latin, from Tertullian on, it became the word for a trial and for temptation;[6][8] Augustine calls the world full of temptation at every hour.[6][8] Medieval Latin used it for a trial or affliction and for an inducement to sin,[2] and in England also for the official testing of bread and ale.[3] English temptation comes from Old French and directly from the Latin.[5]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for attacks of illness.[4][6][7]
  • 59 BC–AD 17 – Livy uses it for an attempt and for an attack.[4][8][7]
  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it for temptation.[6][8][7]
  • AD 354–430 – Augustine, in the City of God, speaks of the world as full of temptation.[6][8][7]
  • c. 1200 – English borrows it as temptation.[5]
  • 1236 – An English charter uses it for testing ale.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An attempt, a trial.[4][6]
  2. A hostile attempt; an attack.[4][8]
  3. An onset or attack of illness.[4][6]
  4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Temptation, inducement to sin.[6][2][8]
  5. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A trial, affliction.[2]
  6. (Medieval Latin) A test or examination, as of bread and ale.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier