encourage

One entry found for encourage.

Main Entry: en·cour·age
Pronunciation: in-'k&r-ij, -'k&-rij, en-
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -aged; -ag·ing
Etymology: Middle English encoragen, from Anglo-French encorager, from en- + curage courage
1 a : to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope : HEARTEN <she was encouraged to continue by her early success> b : to attempt to persuade : URGE <they encouraged him to go back to school>
2 : to spur on : STIMULATE <warm weather encourages plant growth>
3 : to give help or patronage to : FOSTER <government grants designed to encourage conservation>
- en·cour·ag·er noun
synonyms ENCOURAGE, INSPIRIT, HEARTEN, EMBOLDEN mean to fill with courage or strength of purpose. ENCOURAGE suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency <the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts>. INSPIRIT, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something <patriots inspirited the people to resist>. HEARTEN implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal <a hospital patient heartened by good news>. EMBOLDEN implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance <emboldened by her first success, she tried an even more difficult climb>.