Encouragement

Pronunciation

• IPA: ɪnˈkÊŒrɪdÊ’mÉ™nt

Alternative forms

• incouragement archaic

Origin

From Middle French encoragement, from Old French encoragier + -ment, from en- ("make, put in") + corage ("courage"), from Vulgar Latin *coraticum, from cor ("heart, daring") + -ier, suffixed with -ment.

Full definition of encouragement

Noun

1. The act of encouraging; incitement to action or to practice; as, the encouragement of youth in generosity.All generous encouragement of arts. -Otway.
2. That which serves to incite, support, promote or advance, as favor, countenance, reward etc.; incentive; increase of confidence; as, the fine arts find little encouragement among a rude people.To think of his paternal care, Is a most sweet encouragement to prayer. -Byron.

Synonyms