These words refer to things that awaken one’s desires or prompt one to act upon them possibly against one’s will. Tempt emphasizes the awakening of desire despite an initial reluctance; this my result from something that is appealing by its nature or from a deliberate attempt at arousal: a steaming apple pie that tempted him to disregard his diet; a woman who used all her wiles to tempt him into following her. Seduce stresses someone who is prompted to action or permission against his will: seduced by the excitement of the city I had so hated at first. The sexual connotation possible for tempt is insistently present in seduce : boasting about how many woman he had seduced . If this is not borne in mind, the word can be misleading in other contexts: not the first woman who had been seduced by his good looks and soft-spoken manner.

The sexual connotations of both attract and allure are less insistent and obtrusive than in the foregoing words. Attract may give an objective tone in pointing to the winning of notice for any reason: an eccentric costume that attracted disapproving comment; a signal fire that might attract rescuers. In the context of desire, the word suggests being drawn to something because of its intrinsic appeal; no reluctance need be implied on the part of the beholder, no design on the part of the beheld: a vivacity and beauty that attracted every eye in the room; attracted to the woman who stood alone on the boat deck. Allure suggests greater intensity of appeal than attract : allured by the breathtaking view that opened out as they climbed. The word may suggest also a deliberate effort to tempt someone against his will, even to the point of using deception: barkers who allure passers-by into the sideshows by promising spectacles never encountered, once inside.

Lure is closely related to allure, but concentrates mostly on deliberate or deceptive attempts to influence someone or lead him astray, often for fraudulent or destructive purposes: cheese with which to lure mice into the trap; luring him into a lane where her confederate could rob him. The word can, of course, be used more innocently in a hyperbolic way: wondering how she could lure him into accepting an invitation for dinner. Entice also suggests a deliberate effort to tempt someone into action, but the word is vaguer about intent and motivation: hoping to entice him into joining their discussion group; psychopaths who entice children to come for rides in their cars. The word can also be used more simply of appeal: enticed by her lively interest in foreign films. Beguile once referred more exclusively to deceptive attempts to lead astray for unworthy purposes: beguiled by his promise of a quick profit. The word has lost much of this negative force in uses that compare with attract : hoping to beguile him with her knowledge of sport; an exuberance and zaniness in him that she found beguiling .