tempter
/'temptə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A person who tempts others: An individual who entices, persuades, or tries to lead someone into doing something, often something unwise, wrong, or forbidden. 2. The Tempter: A specific, often capitalized, reference to Satan or the Devil, personified as the ultimate source of temptation.
Usage
The word "tempter" is used to describe a person who actively tries to persuade someone to act against their better judgment. It carries a negative connotation, implying the action being encouraged is morally questionable or harmful. When capitalized ("the Tempter"), it is a proper noun referring specifically to the devil in Christian theology.
Examples
- The smooth-talking salesman was a tempter, convincing people to buy things they didn't need.
- In the story, the old man played the role of the tempter, offering the hero wealth in exchange for his loyalty.
- She resisted the tempter who urged her to cheat on the exam.
- (Capitalized) In many religious texts, the Tempter is depicted as a serpent or a fallen angel.
Advanced Usage
- Archaic/Literary Use: The term is common in religious, philosophical, and literary contexts to discuss morality and free will.
- Personification: "Tempter" can be used to personify an abstract source of temptation.
- The whispered promise of easy money was a constant tempter.
Variants and Related Words
- Tempt (verb): To entice or attempt to persuade someone to do something.
- Temptation (noun): The desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise, or the thing that causes such a desire.
- Tempting (adjective): Appealing, attractive, or enticing.
Synonyms
- Seducer
- Enticer
- Instigator
- Persuader (when used in a negative context)
Idioms and Phrases
- The voice of the tempter: Refers to an inner urge or external suggestion to do something one knows is wrong.
- He ignored the voice of the tempter and chose the honest path.
Noun
- a person who tempts others
- Satan is the great tempter of mankind