\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.
         For who would die to gratify a foe?   --Dryden.
2. To requite; to recompense. [Obs.]
         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.