encouragement English · revision 39635

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing, derivation|attested=1550, T. Nicolls, translation of Thucydides|origins=la cor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒmənt/, /ɪŋˈkʌrɪdʒmənt/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /enkɝːɪdʒmənt/, /ɪnkɝːɪdʒmənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|encouragement]],^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline) or a formation in English from [[encourage]] and the suffix [[-ment]].^(Etymonline)^(Dictionary.com 2016) The verb is [[bor|fro|encoragier|t=to make strong, hearten]] (Anglo-Norman [[m|xno|encorager]], from 1155),^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026)^(AND) from [[m|fro|en-]] and [[m|fro|corage|t=heart, courage]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024)^(OED 2026) the source of [[courage]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) The noun ''corage'' continues [[la-vul|*corāticum]], from [[la|cor|t=heart]].^(AHD 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The action of encouraging, or the fact of being encouraged: 1550, in Thomas Nicolls's translation of Thucydides.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1549, and Etymonline and Dictionary.com to the 1560s.^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)^(Dictionary.com 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its meaning has followed the verb, which first meant to give someone courage (1490, in Caxton) and, from the late 17th century, also to stimulate or foster an activity with help or approval.^(OED 2026) The concrete sense, a fact or circumstance that encourages, is recorded from 1700.^(HTOED) Johnson (1755) gave two senses, an incitement to act, an incentive, and favour or support, as in the encouragement of the arts.^(Johnson 1755) The spelling ''incouragement'' was also used in early modern English.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1549 – Merriam-Webster's first date.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1550 – the action of encouraging; the state of being encouraged.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1700 – something that encourages.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The giving of [[support]], [[confidence]] or hope to someone: ''Her coach's encouragement kept her running.''^(ODE 2010)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Persuasion or an [[incentive]] to do something or to keep doing it.^(ODE 2010)^(MWU 2024)

+ # The act of helping an activity or development to grow; [[promotion]]: ''the encouragement of small businesses''.^(MWU 2024)^(ODE 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[reencouragement]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[encourage]]

+ * [[courage]]

+ * [[discouragement]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}