indulgence Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun an inability to resist the gratification of whims and desires
self-indulgence.
noun a disposition to yield to the wishes of someone
lenience; leniency.
- too much indulgence spoils a child
noun the act of indulging or gratifying a desire
indulging; pampering; humoring.
noun foolish or senseless behavior
foolery; craziness; tomfoolery; folly; lunacy.
noun the remission by the pope of the temporal punishment in purgatory that is still due for sins even after absolution
- in the Middle Ages the unrestricted sale of indulgences by pardoners became a widespread abuse

L. indulgentia: cf. F. indulgence.

The act of indulging or humoring; the quality of being indulgent; forbearance of restrain or control.
If I were a judge, that word indulgence should never issue from my lips. Tooke.

They err, that through indulgence to others, or fondness to any sin in themselves, substitute for repentance anything less. Hammond.
An indulgent act; favor granted; gratification.
If all these gracious indulgences are without any effect on us, we must perish in our own folly. Rogers.
(R. C. Ch.) Remission of the temporal punishment due to sins, after the guilt of sin has been remitted by sincere repentance; absolution from the censures and public penances of the church. It is a payment of the debt of justice to God by the application of the merits of Christ and his saints to the contrite soul through the church. It is therefore believed to diminish or destroy for sins the punishment of purgatory.