1) to try whether a thing can be done

a) to attempt, endeavour

2) to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself

a) in a good sense

b) in a bad sense, to test one maliciously, craftily to put to the proof his feelings or judgments

c) to try or test one's faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin

1) to solicit to sin, to tempt

a) of the temptations of the devil

d) after the OT usage

1) of God: to inflict evils upon one in order to prove his character and the steadfastness of his faith

2) men are said to tempt God by exhibitions of distrust, as though they wished to try whether he is not justly distrusted

3) by impious or wicked conduct to test God's justice and patience, and to challenge him, as it were to give proof of his perfections.

[View this word in Trench's Synonyms here.]