encourage

Etymology

From Middle English encouragen, encoragen, from Anglo-Norman encoragier, from Old French encoragier from en- +‎ corage "courage". Displaced native Middle English belden, bielden (“to encourage”) (from Old English bieldan (“to encourage”)), Middle English bealden, balden (“to encourage”) (from Old English bealdian (“to encourage, make bold”)), Middle English herten (“to encourage, enhearten”) (from Old English hiertan, hyrtan (“to enhearten”)), Old English elnian (“to encourage, strengthen”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈkʌɹɪdʒ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈkɝɹɪdʒ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: en‧cour‧age

Verb

encourage (third-person singular simple present encourages, present participle encouraging, simple past and past participle encouraged) (transitive)

1. To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit.

   I encouraged him during his race.

2. To spur on, strongly recommend.

   We encourage the use of bicycles in the town centre.

3. To foster, give help or patronage

   The royal family has always encouraged the arts in word and deed

Verb

encourage

1. first-person singular present indicative of encourager
2. third-person singular present indicative of encourager
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of encourager
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of encourager
5. singular imperative of encourager