See Also: indulge(medicine)
indulge(dictionary)
indulge(dictionary)

indulge (iou)



indulge verb. E17.
[Latin indulgere allow space or time for, give rein to.]
I. verb trans.
Treat (a person) with excessive kindness; gratify by compliance or absence of restraint; humour by yielding to the wishes of. (Foll. by in.) E17.
Harper Lee She's never let them get away with anything, she never indulged them.
b. refl. Give free course to one's inclination or liking; gratify oneself. (Foll. by in.) M17.
L. Bruce I would indulge myself in bizarre melodramatic fantasies.
c. Favour or gratify (a person) with something given or granted. L18.
Grant an indulgence, privilege, or dispensation to. M17.
Gratify (a desire or inclination); give free course to, yield to, give oneself up to; cherish, foster. M17.
E. F. Benson She was quite willing to indulge any foolish prejudices of her husband. L. Namier He..retires to his closet...to indulge the melancholy enjoyment of his own ill humour.
Bestow, grant as a favour; allow or concede as an indulgence. Now rare. M17.
S. Hallifax A Valuable privilege is likewise indulged to Graduates in this faculty.
Commerce. Grant an indulgence on (a bill), or to (a person) on a bill. M18.
II. verb intrans.
Grant indulgence to (a propensity etc., rare a person); give free course to, give way to. M17-L18.
Foll. by in: give rein to one's inclination for; gratify one's desire or appetite for; take one's pleasure in. E18.
H. T. Lane We believe that children develop bad habits by indulging in them. T. Sharpe Observing his fellow travellers and indulging in British Rail's high tea.
Gratify a desire, appetite, etc.; take one's pleasure; spec. (colloq.) partake (freely) of intoxicants. E18.
P. O'Donnell Tarrant..took out his cigar case. He had not indulged all night.
indulged ppl adjective (a) that has received and accepted an indulgence; esp. (Scottish History) (of a Presbyterian minister) licensed to hold services; (b) gratified or favoured by compliance; humoured:L17.
indulger noun M17.
indulging ppl adjective that indulges; indulgent: M18.
indulgingly adverb L18.