Try to persuade prisoner to avoid scorn (5)
I believe the answer is:
tempt
'try to persuade' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tempt that I've seen before include "Scaly mammal" , "Put to the test" , "Entice - give rise to desire" , "Inveigle" , "Invite" .)