encourage
Meaning
to give someone support, confidence, or hope
to persuade someone to do something by making it easier or making them believe it is a good idea
to stimulate the development of an activity, state, or idea
Structure
Usage
the coach's speech was designed to encourage the team before the final match.
tax breaks are used to encourage investment in renewable energy.
she always found ways to encourage her students to read more widely.
Etymology
the word 'encourage' entered english in the late middle english period from old french 'encoragier'. it is a compound formed from the prefix 'en-', meaning 'to put into' or 'make', and the noun 'corage', meaning 'heart' or 'inner spirit'. the latin root 'cor' (heart) is central, as the heart was historically considered the seat of feelings, spirit, and courage. thus, the literal sense 'to put heart into someone' evolved logically into the modern meanings of giving support, confidence, or stimulus.
Analysis
en- (from latin 'in-', a prefix meaning 'to put into, cause to be'); courage (from old french 'corage', from latin 'cor' meaning 'heart', the functional role is the core concept of bravery or spirit).