na. | 1. be lenient towards villains and let them grow [develop; run rampant]; be tolerant and indulgent; foster evil propensities by being overlenient; indulge the evildoers; To overlook a serious offence is to countenance it.; To condone the practice of evil is to abet it.; Overindulgence nurtures evil.; To tolerate evil is to abet it.; To be tolerant tends to breed traitors.; Excessive indulgence breeds [tends to breed] traitors. |
