encourage

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To give someone confidence, hope, or support

   I encouraged him throughout the race.

2. 2
   verb

   To strongly suggest or persuade someone to do something

   We encourage everyone to cycle into the town centre.

3. 3
   verb

   To help something develop or grow

   The royal family has always encouraged the arts.

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.

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