encourage

Definition

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

Etymology

From Middle English encouragen, encoragen, from Anglo-Norman encoragier, from Old French encoragier. Displaced native Old English hiertan, tyhtan, and trymman. By surface analysis, en- + courage.

Example Sentences

• "I encouraged him during his race."
• "Delia's coach encouraged her to focus on the positives."
• ""It's a lose-lose situation. It can be turned into a win-win. We should be encouraging and supporting expensive bi-mode freight locomotives, especially where capacity is constrained."

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