You searched for: “indulgence
indulgence, indulgences
1. The behavior or attitude of people who allow themselves to do whatever they want to do or who allow other people to do what they want to do.
2. The act of doing something that a person enjoys but that is usually thought of as wrong or unhealthy: "He had the unhealthy indulgence of over eating chocolate bars."
3. Something that is done or enjoyed as a special pleasure: "For our anniversary, we allowed ourselves the indulgence of an elegant dinner at our favorite restaurant."
4. In the Roman Catholic Church, remission, by those authorized to do so, of the temporal punishment still due to sin after sacramental absolution; either in this world or in purgatory; also, a relaxation, in a person's favor, of a particular rule of ecclesiastical law; properly called a dispensation.

It includes a granting by the pope of partial remission of time to be spent in purgatory or of some other consequence of a sin. In the Middle Ages, a practice of selling indulgences developed and increased.

This entry is located in the following unit: indulge- (page 1)
Word Entries containing the term: “indulgence
self-indulgence, self indulgence
1. Excessive indulgence of one's own appetites and desires.
2. A lack of self-control in pursuing a person's own pleasure or satisfaction.
3. Something showing no self-control or which reveals a lack of self-restraint.
This entry is located in the following unit: indulge- (page 2)