[en.cour.age] vt -aged ; -ag.ing [ME encoragen, fr. MF encoragier, fr. OF, fr. en- + corage courage] (15c) 1: to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope: hearten
2: to spur on: stimulate
3: to give help or patronage to: foster syn see hearten -- en.cour.ag.er n syn encourage, inspirit, hearten, embolden mean to fill with courage or strength of purpose. encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence esp. 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".