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; to animate; enhearten; to incite; to help forward; -- the opposite of discourage. David encouraged himself in the Lord. 1 Sam. xxx. 6.

The act of encouraging; incitement to action or to practice; as, the encouragement of youth in generosity. All generous encouragement of arts. Otway.

One who encourages, incites, or helps forward; a favorer. The pope is . . . a great encourager of arts. Addison.

Discouragement. [Obs.] Spectator.

To encourage again.

To instigate or encourage by aid or countenance; -- used in a bad sense of persons and acts; as, to abet an ill-doer; to abet one in his wicked courses; to abet vice; to abet an insurrection. "The whole tribe abets the villany." South. Would not the fool abet the stealth, Who rashly thus exposed his wealth Gay.…

To encourage. [Obs.]

guess. [Obs.] What you would work me to, I have some aim. Shak. To cry aim (Archery), to encourage. [Obs.] Shak.

An association for promoting art (esp. the arts of design), and giving encouragement to artists.

To make bold; to encourage; to embolden. Ready speakers, being boldened with their present abilities to say more, . . . use less help of diligence and study. Ascham.

A premium offered or given to induce men to enlist into the public service; or to encourage any branch of industry, as husbandry or manufactures. Bounty jumper, one who, during the latter part of the Civil War, enlisted in the United States service, and deserted as soon as possible after receiving the bounty. [Collog.]…

A note blown on the horn to encourage the hounds.

[U. S.] Bartlett. -- Cattle show, an exhibition of domestic animals with prizes for the encouragement of stock breeding; -- usually accompanied with the exhibition of other agricultural and domestic products and of implements.

In a manner to cheer or encourage.

To hold dear; to embrace with interest; to indulge; to encourage; to foster; to promote; as, to cherish religious principle. To cherish virtue and humanity. Burke.

Encouragement; comfort. [Obs.] Rich bounty and dear cherishment. Spenser.

To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve; to console; to cheer, Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men. Bacon. That we may be adle to comfort them that are in any affliction. 2 Cor. i. 4. (Rev. Ver. ). A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort, and command. Wordsworth.…

Approving or encouraging aspect of face; hence, favor, good will, support; aid; encouragement. Thou hast made him . . . glad with thy countenance. Ps. xxi. 6. This is the magistrate's peculiar province, to give countenance to piety and virtue, and to rebuke vice. Atterbury.

One who advocates or encourages defection.

than thine iniquity deserveth. Job xi. 6. John Gay deserved to be a favorite. Thackeray. Encouragement is not held out to things that deserve reprehension. Burke.