indulgence

[in-duhl-juhns]

noun

1. the act or practice of indulging; gratification of desire.

2. the state of being indulgent.

3. indulgent allowance or tolerance.

   Synonyms: allowance, forbearance, sufferance

4. a catering to someone's mood or whim; humoring.

   The sick man demanded indulgence as his due.

5. something indulged in.

   Her favorite indulgence was candy.

6. Roman Catholic Church.,  a partial remission of the temporal punishment, especially purgatorial atonement, that is still due for a sin or sins after absolution.

7. English and Scottish History.,  (in the reigns of Charles II and James II) a grant by the king to Protestant dissenters and Roman Catholics freeing them from certain penalties imposed, by legislation, because of their religion.

8. Commerce.,  an extension, through favor, of time for payment or performance.

verb (used with object)

indulgenced, indulgencing 

1. Roman Catholic Church.,  to provide with an indulgence.

   an indulgenced pilgrimage to Rome.

indulgence

/ ɪnˈdʌldʒəns /

noun

1. the act of indulging or state of being indulgent

2. a pleasure, habit, etc, indulged in; extravagance

   fur coats are an indulgence

3. liberal or tolerant treatment

4. something granted as a favour or privilege

5. RC Church a remission of the temporal punishment for sin after its guilt has been forgiven

6. commerce an extension of time granted as a favour for payment of a debt or as fulfilment of some other obligation

7. Also called: Declaration of Indulgence. a royal grant during the reigns of Charles II and James II of England giving Nonconformists and Roman Catholics a measure of religious freedom

verb

1. RC Church to designate as providing indulgence

   indulgenced prayers

indulgence

1. In the Roman Catholic Church, a declaration by church authorities that those who say certain prayers or do good deeds will have some or all of their punishment in purgatory remitted.

In the Middle Ages, indulgences were frequently sold, and the teaching on indulgences was often distorted. The attack by Martin Luther on the sale of indulgences began the Reformation.

Other Word Forms

• nonindulgence noun
• preindulgence noun
• reindulgence noun
• superindulgence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of indulgence¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English word from Latin word indulgentia. See indulge, -ence

Example Sentences

Seek out the quiet indulgences that make a big difference over the course of a season.

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So I gave in to indulgence and made a béchamel: one of the five mother sauces of classical French cooking, a simple alchemy of butter, flour and milk that turns heat into velvet.

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Glittering lights, champagne towers and carefully curated period decor created an atmosphere of celebration and indulgence.

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For a touch of indulgence, the on-site spa offers fantastic massages — perfect for unwinding in the city that never sleeps.

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Tacit indulgence of private non-Muslim worship even while public practice of Christianity and other faiths remains formally prohibited.

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Related Words

• extravagance 
• kindness 
• leniency 
• permissiveness 
• privilege