indulge
[ in-duhlj ]
/ ɪnˈdʌldʒ /
WATCH NOW: Is "Indulge" A Positive Or Negative Word?
WATCH NOW: Is "Indulge" A Positive Or Negative Word?
"Indulge" actually started off as a good thing ... so what is it now?
MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COMverb (used without object), in·dulged, in·dulg·ing.
to yield to an inclination or desire; allow oneself to follow one's will (often followed by in): Dessert came, but I didn't indulge. They indulged in unbelievable shopping sprees.
verb (used with object), in·dulged, in·dulg·ing.
to yield to, satisfy, or gratify (desires, feelings, etc.): to indulge one's appetite for sweets.
to yield to the wishes or whims of; be lenient or permissive with: to indulge a child.
to allow (oneself) to follow one's will (usually followed by in): to indulge oneself in reckless spending.
Commerce. to grant an extension of time, for payment or performance, to (a person, company, etc.) or on (a bill, note, etc.).
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RELATED WORDS
satisfy, satiate, nourish, pamper, tickle, entertain, spoil, pander, gratify, humor, oblige, regale, pet, please, cosset, yield, delight, favor, foster, cater
Nearby words
- inductive statistics,
- inductively,
- inductor,
- inductothermy,
- indue,
- indulgence,
- indulgency,
- indulgent,
- induline,
- indult
Origin of indulge
First recorded in 1630–40, indulge is from the Latin word indulgēre to be lenient (toward), accede, take pleasure (in)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for indulge
indulge
/ (ɪnˈdʌldʒ) /
verb
(when intr, often foll by in) to yield to or gratify (a whim or desire for)to indulge a desire for new clothes; to indulge in new clothes
(tr) to yield to the wishes of; pamperto indulge a child
(tr) to allow oneself the pleasure of somethingat Christmas he liked to indulge himself
(tr) commerce to allow (a debtor) an extension of time for payment of (a bill, etc)
(intr) informal to take alcoholic drink, esp to excess
Word Origin for indulge
C17: from Latin indulgēre to concede, from -dulgēre, probably related to Greek dolikhos long, Gothic tulgus firm
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
indulge
1630s, "to grant as a favor;" 1650s, of both persons and desires, "to treat with unearned favor;" a back-formation from indulgence, or else from Latin indulgere "to be complaisant." Related: Indulged; indulging.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper