Forms: α. 5 encorage, 6– encourage. β. 7 incorage (incurrage), 7–8 incourage. [ad. OF. encoragier, Fr. encourager, f. en (see EN-1) + corage: see COURAGE.]
1. trans. To inspire with courage, animate, inspirit.
α. 1490. Caxton, Eneydos (1889), 31. They were … gretly encoraged wyth goode hope.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Serm. (1637), 404. God would have Joshua encouraged with all the encouragement that may be.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Σκιαμαχια, Wks. (1711), 203. By encouraging those, who for their own Interest pretend Religion.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1754), 6. That which encourag’d them was, that the City was healthy.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Napoleon, Wks. (Bohn), I. 376. Whatever appeals to the imagination … wonderfully encourages and liberates us.
β. 1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop. (Arb.), 16. This verely is ye chieffe cause, yat hath incouraged me.
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler (ed. 3), 71. Prayers … that the God of power and goodnesse, would incourage your hearts.
1713. Steele, Guardian, No. 24, ¶ 2. Jack was incouraged at this success.
2. Const. to with sb. as obj. or with inf.
a. To inspire with courage sufficient for any undertaking; to embolden, make confident.
α. 1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 5. Yat they mighte … bee encouraged to do the like.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxvii. 158. Presumeth on his force, or other power, which encourages him to commit the same again.
1785. Cowper, Lett., 9 Nov. John Gilpin … first encouraged you to write.
1824. Miss Ferrier, Inher., xxxv. I feel encouraged to the liberty I am going to take, by the kindness you showed me.
1880. Mrs. Forrester, Roy & V., I. 31. Encourage yourself to say these things now you are in Paris.
β. 1538. Starkey, England, 153. The wych thyng undowtydly wold incorage basse stomakys to endevur themselfys dylygently.
1641. Prynne, Antip., 3 Ded. To the which I have beene the more incouraged by a Divine Providence.
1743. Tindal, Rapin’s Hist. Eng., II. XVII. 53. Incouraged the Protestants to stand upon their defence.
b. To incite, induce, instigate; in weaker sense, to recommend, advise.
1483. Caxton, Cato, G j b. They encorage somme persone to do euyl.
1612. Sir R. Dudley, in Fortesc. Papers, 7, note. To incurrage his Highnes to undertake a matter of that consequence.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 201/102. Water him, and … Encourage him to thirst again, with Bran.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 44. We are not encouraging individuals to make right or wrong for themselves.
† c. ellipt. To encourage to come, to invite. Obs. rare.
1728. T. Sheridan, Persius, vi. (1739), 86. Ennius … [was] encouraged to Rome by Cato the Quæstor.
3. To stimulate (persons or personal efforts) by assistance, reward, or expressions of favor or approval; to countenance, patronize; also, in bad sense, to abet.
1668. Hale, Pref. Rolle’s Abridgment, 9. A Book published … not to abate their [Students’] Industry, but to incourage it.
1716. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., xi. I. 38. No woman dares … encourage two lovers at a time.
1777. Sheridan, Sch. Scand., IV. i. Paying them [tradesmen] is only encouraging them.
1857. Buckle, Civiliz., I. xi. 629. Why, then, should we call upon government to encourage those who write our books, any more than to encourage those who kill our mutton and mend our garments?
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. xxvi. 642. The bailiffs were allowed to encourage venturous boys in bringing young birds for purposes of training.
1876. Green, Short. Hist., vi. § 3 (1882), 293. Among the group who encouraged the press of Caxton [was] … Richard, Duke of Gloucester.
b. To allow or promote the continuance or development of (a natural growth, an industry, a sentiment, etc.); to cherish, foster.
1677. Yarranton, Engl. Improv., 63. If the Iron Manufacture be not incouraged.
1693. Congreve, Double-Dealer, I. v. (1694), 9. Hum! Deuce take me, I have encourag’d a Pimple here too.
1788. V. Knox, Winter Even., I. iii. 31. Books of controversy … are less encouraged.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xviii. 184. Sunshine … encouraged a perceptible growth of flowering plants.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, II. xxiii. [He] grasped at a thought more actively cruel than any he had ever encouraged before.
4. nonce-use. a. Humorously: To put spirit into (liquor). b. To make up for, compensate for.
1628. Hobbes, Thucyd., 77. Encouraging their want of knowledge, with store of men.
1655. Fuller, Hist. Camb., v. § 48, 87. Erasmus … sometimes incouraged his faint Ale with the mixture.
