All 4 Uses of
indulgent
in
Atonement, by Ian McEwan
- When they stepped into the room, into the light of several lamps, Briony was still there, still barefoot and in her filthy white dress, and her mother was standing by the door on the far side of the room, smiling indulgently.†
Chpt 1 *indulgently = with extra kindness or tolerance
- But these gestures were only half serious, and most of those who turned smiled indulgently from their deck chairs, for there was something about two young nurses—nurses in wartime—in their purple and white tunics, dark blue capes and spotless caps, that made them as irreproachable as nuns.†
Chpt 3
- The kindly inspector with the granite face must have thought he had been indulgent enough, for he stepped forward to brush away Cecilia's hand and interpose himself.†
Chpt 1
- There was indulgent laughter, more applause, then Charles announced that it was dinner.†
Chpt 3
Definitions:
-
(1)
(indulgent) to treat with extra kindness or tolerance
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
In the form, indulgence, the word can also refer to a special pleasure--typically something done in excess of what is thought good--such as eating too much cake, or being too lazy