tentato

attempted (as in attempted crime)

adjective ten-TAH-toh Rare

Origin: Past participle of tentare (to attempt/to tempt), from Latin tentare.

Also means

tempted

Usage Note

Tentato most commonly appears in legal language as part of the phrase tentato omicidio (attempted murder) or tentata rapina (attempted robbery), where it precedes the noun. Used predicatively, it means 'tempted': sono tentato di accettare (I am tempted to accept). The two senses — 'attempted' (criminal act) and 'tempted' (a person) — are both standard and context makes the meaning clear.

Examples

"È accusato di tentato furto in un negozio."

Natural Translation

He is accused of attempted theft in a shop.

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