tentative

/ˈtentətɪv/TEN-tuh-tiv

/ˈtɛntətɪv/TEN-tuh-tiv

Meaningtrying

Common meaning: done as a trial

Other meanings: not final

tentto handle, testLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 1851 · scan
ativeadjective ending: tending to

Journey through time

Latintentare‘to try’source
Latintentativus‘trying’source
Englishtentative‘done as a trial’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin temptō ‘to handle, test’.

Roots

temptō, temptāre Latin “to handle, test”

Related words

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