discourage

Etymology

From Middle French descourager (modern French décourager), from Old French descouragier, from des- and corage. Surface analysis dis- +‎ courage.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪsˈkʌɹɪdʒ/

Verb

discourage (third-person singular simple present discourages, present participle discouraging, simple past and past participle discouraged) (transitive)

1. To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject.

   Don't be discouraged by the amount of work left to do: you'll finish it in good time.

   • Bible, Col. iii. 21

     Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

2. To persuade somebody not to do something.
   • Abraham Lincoln

     Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can.

Noun

discourage (uncountable)

1. (rare) Lack of courage

Further reading

• discourage in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911