encourager

Forms

encourager^[1] Old French encuragier, encoragier.^[2][3][1]

Etymology

It is formed from French en- + courage + -er, first as Old French encuragier.^[2][4][5][1] That noun is itself derived from cœur, from Latin cor (“heart”), in which ancient anatomy placed the seat of courage.^[6]

Littré notes a 16th-century form acourager.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Wace's Brut (1155), in encuragier de, “to urge to do something”.^[2][8][3]

Semantic evolution

From the start it meant to give someone energy or strength of mind, and especially to spur someone to a particular act; the construction encourager quelqu'un à with an infinitive is recorded from 1636.^[8][9] Classical French could also use de.^[9]

Before 1778 the verb took a social sense, to support or promote by rewards or money, as of the arts or sciences;^[8][9] it is also used of bad things one fosters, as a vice.^[7] The noun encouragement first meant anger or indignation, and only in the 16th century the act of encouraging.^[8]

Timeline

• 1155 – Wace uses encuragier de in the Brut.^[2][8]
• 1636 – Monet records encourager quelqu'un à with an infinitive.^[8][9]
• Before 1778 – Voltaire uses it for supporting by rewards or protection.^[9][8]

Meanings

Verb

1. To encourage, give courage or confidence to: encourager un ami avant un examen.^[5][7]
2. To cheer on, support: encourager son équipe.^[5]
3. Encourager quelqu'un à: to urge or spur someone to do something.^[9][5]
4. To promote, foster, especially by rewards or grants: encourager la recherche.^[5][7]
5. S'encourager: to encourage oneself, or each other.^[7][1]

Word family

• encouragement
• encourageant

Related words

• courage
• décourager
• cœur

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse