Link Centre Dictionary

encourage

en·cou·rage

UK/ɪnˈkʌɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/ US/ɪnˈkɝ.ɪd͡ʒ/ fairly common

verb

1.

contribute to the progress or growth of

  • “I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom”
Synonyms
2.
3.

spur on

  • “His financial success encouraged him to look for a wife”

Origin

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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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.