Baretti: A dictionary of the English and Italian languages
Tentá-re, v. a.
1. to touch lightly in order to ascertain; 2. to attempt, try; 3. to tempt; 4. to probe; 5. to fathom. — il fiume, to sound the river, ascertain its depth; 6. to urge, stimulate;7. to importune, annoy; 8. to examine;s. m. Tentá-tóre, f. Tentá-tríce; adj. Tentá-nte.
Florio: a worlde of wordes, or most copious, dictionarie in Italian and English
tentare: to tempt, to attempt, to iry, to assay, to sound, to prooue, to offer or goe about to doe a thing. Also to handle or feele or grepe for. Also to tempt one to doe some euill, to prouoake or egge one.
