Daily Word • Learn, play, and grow your vocabulary
Indulgence is giving in to a desire or whim, often something that might be considered a bit of a treat or even a guilty pleasure. It's like treating yourself to an extra slice of pizza 🍕 when you're already full. It can also refer to being lenient or tolerant towards someone's faults. The opposite is restraint or self-denial. Think of it as a momentary lapse in discipline, like binging your favorite show instead of studying. 📚
The word 'indulgence' comes from the Latin word 'indulgentia,' meaning 'leniency' or 'tenderness.' It's derived from 'indulgere,' which means 'to be kind' or 'to yield.' This Latin root also gives us words like 'indulgent,' which describes someone who is permissive. The original sense involved a relaxing of rules or penalties. It evolved over time to encompass the idea of giving oneself pleasure. The 'dulge' part is related to 'delight'.
Imagine you're binge-watching your favorite show on Netflix instead of doing your homework. That's an indulgence. Maybe your parents said you can only watch one episode, but you sneak in three more. Then you tell yourself, just one more! This happens to every character in every teen show and movie! It can be anything from ordering take out instead of cooking or buying new shoes when you already have a bunch!
Everyone deserves a little indulgence now and then, but remember to balance it with responsibility! 😉 Use this word to describe those little moments when you treat yourself. You can also use it to describe when you let someone off easy!
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