costen

Meaning

Verb

• To try; tempt.

Origin

• From Middle English costnien, from Old English costnian, subsidiary form of Old English costian ("to tempt, try, prove, examine"), from Proto-Germanic *kustōną ("to try, taste"), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵews- ("to enjoy, taste"). Cognate with German kosten ("to taste"). More at choose.