tentative — [ tɑ̃tativ ] n. f. • XVIIe; « épreuve de théologie » 1546; lat. scolast. tentativa, de tentare « tenter » ♦ Action par laquelle on s efforce, on essaie d obtenir un résultat. ⇒ essai. Tentative d évasion. Tentative de suicide. Tentative de greffe … Encyclopédie Universelle
tentative — UK US /ˈtentətɪv/ adjective ► not certain or agreed: »The car company and the union reached a tentative agreement. »a tentative deal/plan/settlement »The proposals are tentative and subject to bargaining. ► said or done in a careful way because… … Financial and business terms
tentative — Tentative. s. f. v. Action par laquelle on tente, on essaye de faire reussir quelque chose. Faire une tentative auprés de quelqu un. il fit plusieurs tentatives inutiles. On appelle aussi, Tentative, Le premier acte qu on fait en Theologie. Il a… … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
tentative — [ten′tə tiv] adj. [LL tentativus < pp. of L tentare, to touch, try: see TENT2] 1. made, done, proposed, etc. experimentally or provisionally; not definite or final [tentative plans, a tentative explanation] 2. indicating timidity, hesitancy,… … English World dictionary
Tentative — Ten*ta tive, a. [L. tentare to try: cf. F. tentatif. See {Tempt}.] Of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental. A slow, tentative manner. Carlyle. {Ten*ta tive*ly}, adv. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Tentative — Ten*ta tive, n. [Cf. F. tentative.] An essay; a trial; an experiment. Berkley. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
tentative — I adjective cautious, conditional, contingent, dependent, experimental, exploratory, groping, interim, probationary, probative, proposed, provisional, provisory, questionable, speculative, temporary, trial, undecided, unsettled associated… … Law dictionary
tentative — [adj1] conditional, experimental acting, ad interim, conjectural, contingent, dependent, iffy*, indefinite, makeshift, not final, not settled, on trial, open for consideration, probationary, provisional, provisionary, provisory, speculative,… … New thesaurus
tentative — 1580s, from M.L. tentativus trying, testing, from L. tentatus, pp. of tentare to feel, try, (variant of temptare to feel, try, test ). Related: Tentatively … Etymology dictionary
tentative — *provisional Analogous words: *temporary, ad interim, acting: testing, trying, demonstrating, proving (see PROVE) Antonyms: definitive … New Dictionary of Synonyms
tentative — ► ADJECTIVE 1) done without confidence; hesitant. 2) not certain or fixed; provisional. DERIVATIVES tentatively adverb tentativeness noun. ORIGIN Latin tentativus, from temptare handle, try … English terms dictionary
