the word "tempter" is a transparent english formation, combining the verb "tempt" with the agentive suffix "-er". the verb "tempt" entered english via old french tempter from latin temptare, meaning "to handle, test, or try". this latin verb itself is an alteration of tentare, a frequentative form of tendere (to stretch, strive), which traces back to the proto-indo-european root ten- (to stretch). the semantic journey from the physical act of "stretching" or "handling" to the abstract notion of "testing" and finally to "enticing someone to do wrong" is a classic example of meaning evolution. the suffix "-er" is a native germanic element used to form nouns indicating an agent, thus a "tempter" is literally "one who tempts," a role most famously personified in christian theology as the devil.

Structure: tempt (to entice) + er (agent suffix) tempt: from latin temptare (to handle, test, try, entice). functional role: core verb root. er: from old english -ere, a germanic agent noun suffix. functional role: derivational suffix forming a noun meaning "one who does the action of the verb".