indulge Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb give free rein to
    • The writer indulged in metaphorical language
  2. verb yield (to); give satisfaction to
    pander; gratify.
  3. verb enjoy to excess
    luxuriate.
    • She indulges in ice cream
  4. verb treat with excessive indulgence
    featherbed; pamper; cosset; cocker; mollycoddle; spoil; baby; coddle.
    • grandparents often pamper the children
    • Let's not mollycoddle our students!

WordNet


In*dulge" transitive verb
Etymology
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.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Indulged ; present participle & verbal noun Indulging
Definitions
  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. 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.
In*dulge" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. 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." Johnson.

Webster 1913