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The act of gratifying, or pleasing, either the mind, the taste, or the appetite; as, the gratification of the palate, of the appetites, of the senses, of the desires, of the heart.

f any action, especially the refraining from an indulgence of appetite, or from customary gratifications of animal or sensual propensities. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating beverages, -- called also total abstinence. The abstinence from a present pleasure that offers itself is a pain, nay, oft…

The desire for some personal gratification, either of the body or of the mind. The object of appetite it whatsoever sensible good may be wished for; the object of will is that good which reason does lead us to seek. Hooker.

Having the quality of desiring gratification; as, appetitive power or faculty. Sir M. Hale.

The practice of procuring women for the gratification of lust.

Speech-making for the gratification of constituents, or to gain public applause; flattering talk for a selfish purpose; anything said for mere show. [Cant or Slang, U.S.] All that flourish about right of search was bunkum -- all that brag about hanging your Canada sheriff was bunkum . . . slavery speeches are all bunku…

Calm contentment; satisfaction; gratification. The inward complacence we find in acting reasonably and virtuously. Atterbury. Others proclaim the infirmities of a great man with satisfaction and complacency, if they discover none of the like in themselves. Addison.

Gratification; pleasure; satisfaction. [Obs.] At Paris the prince spent one whole day to give his mind some contentment in viewing of a famous city. Sir H. Wotton.

Attempts to attract admoration, notice, or love, for the mere gratification of vanity; trifling in love. "Little affectations of coquetry." Addison.

To call for, as a gratification; to long for; hence, to require or demand; as, the stomach craves food. His path is one that eminently craves weary walking. Edmund Gurney.

Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in anything. [Obs.] I ne told no deyntee of her love. Chaucer.

Pleasure; gratification; delight. [Obs.] He Rome brent for his delicacie. Chaucer.

A high degree of gratification of mind; a high-wrought state of pleasurable feeling; lively pleasure; extreme satisfaction; joy. Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not. Shak. A fool hath no delight in understanding. Prov. xviii. 2.

ial of a fault charged on one; a denial of God. Denial of one's self, a declining of some gratification; restraint of one's appetites or propensities; self-denial.

ncroft. Thou thrice denied, yet thrice beloved. Keble. To deny one's self, to decline the gratification of appetites or desires; to practice self-denial. Let him deny himself, and take up his cross. Matt. xvi. 24.

Want of complacency or gratification; envious displeasure; dislike. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

being dissatisfied, unsatisfied, or discontented; uneasiness proceeding from the want of gratification, or from disappointed wishes and expectations. The ambitious man has little happiness, but is subject to much uneasiness and dissatisfaction. Addison.

An undue indulgence of the appetite; transgression of proper moderation in natural gratifications; intemperance; dissipation. Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess. Eph. v. 18. Thy desire . . . leads to no excess That reaches blame. Milton.

In a bad sense, tendency to transient or physical pleasure; desire for sensual gratification; carnality.

Gratification of any kind, particularly that which is exquisitely relished; enjoyment. Destroy all creatures for thy sport or gust. Pope.