from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Gratify \Grat"i*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gratified}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Gratifying}.] [F. gratifier, L. gratificari; gratus
pleasing + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See {-fy}.]
1. To please; to give pleasure to; to satisfy; to soothe; to
indulge; as, to gratify the taste, the appetite, the
senses, the desires, the mind, etc.
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For who would die to gratify a foe? --Dryden.
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2. To requite; to recompense. [Obs.]
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It remains . . .
To gratify his noble service. --Shak.
Syn: To indulge; humor please; delight; requite; recompense.
Usage: To {Gratify}, {Indulge}, {Humor.} Gratify, is the
generic term, and has reference simply to the pleasure
communicated. To indulge a person implies that we
concede something to his wishes or his weaknesses
which he could not claim, and which had better,
perhaps, be spared. To humor is to adapt ourselves to
the varying moods, and, perhaps, caprices, of others.
We gratify a child by showing him the sights of a
large city; we indulge him in some extra expense on
such an occasion; we humor him when he is tired and
exacting.
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