/in dul"jeuhns/ , n. , v. , indulgenced, indulgencing .
n.
1. the act or practice of indulging; gratification of desire.
2. the state of being indulgent.
3. indulgent allowance or tolerance.
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. Rom. Cath. Ch. a partial remission of the temporal punishment, esp. purgatorial atonement, that is still due for a sin or sins after absolution. Cf. plenary indulgence .
7. Eng. and Scot. Hist. (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. Com. an extension, through favor, of time for payment or performance.
v.t.
9. Rom. Cath. Ch. to provide with an indulgence: an indulgenced pilgrimage to Rome.
[ 1325-75; ME indulgentia. See INDULGE, -ENCE ]
Syn. 3. sufferance, forbearance, allowance.