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indulge

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.28 sec.
in·dulge  (n-dlj)
v. in·dulged, in·dulg·ing, in·dulg·es
v.tr.
1. To yield to the desires and whims of, especially to an excessive degree; humor.
2.
a. To yield to; gratify: indulge a craving for chocolate.
b. To allow (oneself) unrestrained gratification: indulged herself with idle daydreams. See Synonyms at pamper.
3. Roman Catholic Church To grant an ecclesiastical indulgence or dispensation to.
v.intr.
1. To indulge oneself: eyed the desserts but didn't indulge.
2. To engage or take part, especially freely or avidly: indulged in outrageous behavior; indulged in all the latest fads.

[Latin indulgre; see dlegh- in Indo-European roots.]

in·dulger n.

indulge
Verb
[-dulging, -dulged]
1. (often foll. by in)to yield to or gratify (a whim or desire for): to indulge in new clothes
2. to allow (someone) to have or do everything he or she wants: he had given her too much, indulged her in everything
3. to allow (oneself) the pleasure of something: he indulged himself
4. Informal to take alcoholic drink [Latin indulgere to concede]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.indulge - give free rein to; "The writer indulged in metaphorical language"
wallow - devote oneself entirely to something; indulge in to an immoderate degree, usually with pleasure; "Wallow in luxury"; "wallow in your sorrows"
2.indulge - yield (to); give satisfaction to
humor, humour - put into a good mood
spree - engage without restraint in an activity and indulge, as when shopping
cater, ply, provide, supply - give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance; "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests"
sow one's oats, sow one's wild oats - live promiscuously and self-indulgently
3.indulge - enjoy to excess; "She indulges in ice cream"
deplete, use up, wipe out, eat up, exhaust, run through, eat, consume - use up (resources or materials); "this car consumes a lot of gas"; "We exhausted our savings"; "They run through 20 bottles of wine a week"
surfeit - indulge (one's appetite) to satiety
4.indulge - treat with excessive indulgence; "grandparents often pamper the children"; "Let's not mollycoddle our students!"
do by, treat, handle - interact in a certain way; "Do right by her"; "Treat him with caution, please"; "Handle the press reporters gently"

indulge
verb 1. gratify, satisfy, fulfil, feed, give way to, yield to, cater to, pander to, regale, gladden, satiate
verb 2. spoil, pamper, cosset, baby, favour, humour, give in to, coddle, spoon-feed, mollycoddle, fawn on, overindulge
indulge yourself treat yourself, splash out, spoil yourself, luxuriate in something, overindulge yourself
Translations
Spanish indulge [ɪnˈdʌldʒ] vt [+ whim] → satisfacer [+ person]; complacer [+ child]; mimar
vi to indulge in → darse el gusto de

French indulge [ɪnˈdʌldʒ] vt [+ whim] → céder à, satisfaire [+ child]; gâter
vi to indulge in sth [+ luxury] → s'offrir qch, se permettre qch [+ fantasies etc]; se livrer à qch

German indulge [ɪnˈdʌldʒ] vtnachgeben +dat;
(person, child) → verwöhnen
vi to indulge in → sich hingeben +dat

Italian indulge [ɪnˈdʌldʒ] vt [+ whim] → compiacere, soddisfare [+ child]; viziare
vi to indulge in sth → concedersi qc; abbandonarsi a qc

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
"Since I cannot sleep," she said, "on account of your song which, believe me, is sweet as the lyre of Apollo, I shall indulge myself in drinking some nectar which Pallas lately gave me.
Indeed, I shall seldom or never so indulge him, unless in such instances as this, where nothing but the inspiration with which we writers are gifted, can possibly enable any one to make the discovery.
The audience is supposed to be too dull to comprehend unless something of their own is thrown in by the performers, who therefore indulge in restless movements.
 
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