INDULGE • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Indulge

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/ɪndˈəldʒ/ Listen

verb

Indulge v. t. (past & past part. indulged; pres. part. indulging)

To be complacent toward; to give way to; not to oppose or restrain;

(a)

when said of a habit, desire, etc.: To give free course to; to give one's self up to; as, to indulge sloth, pride, selfishness, or inclinations;

(b)

when said of a person: To yield to the desire of; to gratify by compliance; to humor; to withhold restraint from; as, to indulge children in their caprices or willfulness; to indulge one's self with a rest or in pleasure. "Hope in another life implies that we indulge ourselves in the gratifications of this very sparingly."

To grant as by favor; to bestow in concession, or in compliance with a wish or request. "Persuading us that something must be indulged to public manners." "Yet, yet a moment, one dim ray of light Indulge, dread Chaos, and eternal Night!" Note: It is remarked by Johnson, that if the matter of indulgence is a single thing, it has with before it; if it is a habit, it has in; as, he indulged himself with a glass of wine or a new book; he indulges himself in idleness or intemperance. See Gratify.

Indulge v. i. To indulge one's self; to gratify one's tastes or desires; esp., to give one's self up (to); to practice a forbidden or questionable act without restraint; followed by in, but formerly, also, by to. "Willing to indulge in easy vices."

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Etymology of 'Indulge'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Indulge" Quotes from Famous Books

... of my life has always been to indulge my senses; I never knew anything of greater importance. I felt myself born for the fair sex, I have ever loved it dearly, and I have been loved by it as often and as much as I could. I have likewise always had a great weakness for good living, and I ever felt passionately fond of every object which ...

— The Memoires of Casanova, Complete • Jacques Casanova de Seingalt

... no time to indulge in evil thoughts, even had any crossed his mind. He caught her in his arms, and commanding the maid to follow, hurried down ...

— Hereward, The Last of the English • Charles Kingsley

... Jacobin rites in our fetes shall prevail, Ours the true feast of reason, the soul's social flow; Here we cherish the friend, while the patriot we hail, As true to his country—as stern to her foe. Impress'd with his worth, We indulge in our mirth, And bright shines the planet that ruled at his birth. Round the orbit of Britain, oh, long may it move, Like the satellite circling the ...

— Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 364, February 1846 • Various

... "You may leave Mr. Grierson out of your problem. Miss Margery is an only child, and if she sees fit to turn Mereside into a temporary hospital, he is abundantly able to indulge her." ...

— The Price • Francis Lynde

... Idiot. "But, as I was saying, before the happy event that reduced our number from ten to nine we were permitted to address our friend Pedagog in any terms we saw fit, and whenever he became sufficiently interested to indulge in repartee we were privileged to return it. Have we relinquished that privilege? I don't remember to ...

— The Idiot • John Kendrick Bangs

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