ə̇nˈkər.]ij, en-, -kə.r], ]ēj, chiefly in pres part ]əj transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English encoragen, from Middle French encoragier, from Old French, from en en- (I) + corage courage — more at courage
1. : to give courage to : inspire with courage, spirit, or hope : hearten
an example that encouraged struggling peoples to fight for liberty
2. : to spur on : stimulate , incite
the conversation was … skillfully encouraged by host and hostess — Lucien Price
3. : to give help or patronage to : foster
government grants designed to encourage conservation
4. : to call forth : produce , create
sharp competition among newsmen … tends to encourage sensationalism — F.L.Mott
Synonyms:
inspirit , cheer , hearten , embolden , nerve , steel : encourage suggests generally instilling with courage, confidence, and purpose or fostering enough of these characteristics by advice, inducement, or similar influence to perform or endure as indicated
so much is she overshadowed by her husband, who, indeed, did little himself to encourage her personality beyond the home — H.S.Canby
the treatment should begin by encouraging him to utter freely even his most shocking thoughts — Bertrand Russell
inspirit , a rather literary word, indicates imparting of a spirit, especially one of courageous or optimistic resolution
the marches [of Sousa] were most inspiriting … and so patriotic — Osbert Sitwell
an astonishing and inspiriting record of what human ingenuity can accomplish — Basil Davenport
cheer indicates lifting up in spirit, either from a degree of sadness or discouragement or to a degree of courage, optimism, and hope needed to continue or persevere
doctored the sick, cheered the downhearted … and by sheer force of character made himself their indispensable leader — G.H.Genzmer
hearten suggests imparting new or renewed courage, ardor, energy, and optimism
gifts … which both strengthen our resources and hearten our endeavors — J.B.Conant
heartened by the arrival of three great soldiers — Kenneth Roberts
embolden is likely to suggest overcoming timidity, reticence, or reservation and imparting sufficient boldness for whatever is under consideration
on seeing a carriage drive up to the Abbey, she was emboldened to descend and meet him under the protection of visitors — Jane Austen
the government, emboldened by this first victory, now aimed a blow at an enemy of a very different class — T.B.Macaulay
nerve and steel are likely to indicate an imparting or collecting of qualities of moral strength, resolution, and courage for some special occasion, accomplishment, task, or duty; they may differ in that steel may be stronger in indicating an inflexible resolution or utter insensibility to what would enervate or mollify
this commercial opportunity nerved the Ottawas to an unaccustomed doing — Bernard De Voto
nerving myself with the thought that if I got crushed by the fall I should probably escape a lingering and far more painful death, I dropped into the cloud of foliage — W.H.Hudson †1922
the aspirant must school and steel himself to sniffs and sneers — H.L.Mencken
it taught them to steel their wills, to discipline their habits, to work intensively — A.R.Williams
Synonym: see in addition favor .