INDULGE

indulge. Indulge, v.t. to humor, gratify, oblige, favor

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In‐dulge″ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Indulged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Indulging (?).] [[L. indulgere to be kind or tender to one; cf. OIr. dilgud, equiv. to L. remissio, OIr. dligeth, equiv. to L. lex, Goth. dulgs debt.]] 1. 1. 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. Atterbury. 2. 2. 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. Jer. Taylor. Yet, yet a moment, one dim ray of light Indulge, dread Chaos, and eternal Night! Pope. ☞ 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.