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. 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.
&fist; 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", 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." Johnson.
