tentare Italian · revision 38868

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1306, Iacopone da Todi|origins=la temptō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /tenˈta.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''tentare''' (first-person singular present tènto or ténto, first-person singular past historic tentài, past participle tentàto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[roa-oit|temptare]] and [[roa-oit|tenctare]].^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|temptō|t=to touch, to feel; to test; to attack]],^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)^(Gabrielli 2020) in its late and popular form without /p/.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) DELI, Sabatini–Coletti and GDLI explain that form by confusion with [[m|la|tentō|t=to stretch out]], the frequentative of [[m|la|tendō|t=to stretch]], and Treccani thinks the verbs merged already in Latin.^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(GDLI)^(Treccani 2011) Körting puts the Romance verbs under the frequentative.^(Körting 1907) The same verb is [[fr|tenter]], [[oc|tentar]], [[ca|tentar]], [[es|tentar]] and [[pt|tentar]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Körting 1907)

+

+ The origin of [[m|la|temptō]] is uncertain.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) Nocentini and Devoto take it as a frequentative of the root of [[m|la|tendō]], [[ine-pro|*ten-|t=to stretch]], extended with -p- as in [[lt|tempti|t=to stretch, to pull]], with the sense “to stretch out the hands”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto 1968) De Vaan likewise sees in it an iterative built on a past participle meaning “touched”, from a root [[m|ine-pro|*temp-|t=to stretch]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ The sense “to lead into sin” comes from the Gospels, where the verb renders [[grc|πειράζω|tr=peirázō|t=to test, to try]].^(Nocentini 2010) DELI adds that the Christian writers made the Latin noun for “tempter” an epithet of the devil.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Iacopone da Todi, who died in 1306, in the sense “to put to the test”, and GRADIT dates that sense to the same time;^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(DEI|3752) DEI finds the verb in the 13th-century ''Fiore d'Italia''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(DEI|3752)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante uses the verb for a light touch, ''quando il mio duca mi tentò di costa'', “when my guide touched me on the side”, and for touching to test a hold, ''Ma tenta pria s'è tal ch'ella ti reggia'', “but first try whether it is such as to bear you”.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011) The sense “to try to corrupt, to lead into evil” appears in Passavanti in 1354, “to try to succeed in something” in Boccaccio (1348–1353), “to try out, to experiment” in 1545, and “to attract, to lure” in Davanzati before 1600.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ Today “to try, to attempt” is the main sense, with set phrases such as ''tentare la sorte'' and the proverb ''tentar non nuoce'', “there's no harm in trying”.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) Derivatives include ''tentazione'' and ''tentatore'' (14th century), ''tentoni'' “gropingly” (''a tentone'' in Boccaccio) and ''tentativo'' (Galileo, before 1642), which had been an adjective in Late Latin.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Albanian borrowed the verb as [[sq|tentoj]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – DEI finds ''tentare'' in the ''Fiore d'Italia''.^(DEI|3752)

+ * Before 1306 – Iacopone da Todi uses it for “to put to the test”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1300–1313 – Dante uses it for “to touch lightly”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1348–1353 – Boccaccio uses it for “to try to succeed”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1354 – Passavanti uses it for “to lead into evil”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1545 – The sense “to try out, experiment” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1642 – Galileo uses ''tentativo''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|try]], to [[m|en|attempt]] (+ ''di'' and infinitive): ''Ho tentato di chiamarti tre volte, ma il telefono era spento.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To try out a means, to attempt something: ''I medici tenteranno un intervento molto delicato.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To [[m|en|tempt]], to try to lead into sin or wrongdoing: ''Nel deserto il diavolo tentò Gesù.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To attract, to entice: ''L'idea di un viaggio in Islanda mi tenta parecchio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To feel, to probe the ground or the bottom by touching.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(literary)'' To touch lightly; to touch the strings of an instrument.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(literary)'' To sound someone out, to question them about their intentions.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tentativo]]

+ * [[tentazione]]

+ * [[tentatore]]

+ * [[tentabile]]

+ * [[tentoni]]

+ * [[ritentare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tendere]]

+ * [[stentare]]

+ * [[la|tempto]]

+ * [[fr|tenter]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Set phrases include ''tentare la sorte'' or ''la fortuna'', to try one's luck, and ''tentarle tutte'', to try everything; the proverb ''tentar non nuoce'' means “there's no harm in trying”.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) The verb takes ''avere''; the present is ''tènto'', with ''ténto'' as a variant.^(Wiktionary)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}