Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “indulgence” come from?

Indulgence comes from French indulgence, meaning clemency or forbearance, derived from Latin indulgentia, meaning fondness or favor.

indulgence (English): the act of indulging; tolerance; catering to...

Definitions

  1. the act of indulging; tolerance; catering to...

Ancestry of “indulgence”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchindulgence—
2Latinindulgentialeniency, concession, pardon; kindness,...
3Latinindulgēns—
4LatinindulgeoI am kind or courteous ; I am inclined ; give...
5Latinīn-—
6Latinîn—
7Latinenlookǃ beholdǃ; reallyǃ?; come onǃ
8Proto-Italicenin
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁énin

Words derived from “indulgence”

  • overindulgence
  • underindulgence
  • nonindulgence
  • self-indulgence
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁én →