discourages
|dis/cour/age|
🇺🇸
/dɪˈskɝɪdʒ/
🇬🇧
/dɪˈskʌrɪdʒ/
(discourage)
loss of courage
Etymology
'discourage' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'descourager' (or 'discourager'), where the prefix 'des-' meant 'do the opposite of' or 'remove' and 'corage' (from Old French) meant 'heart' or 'spirit'.
'discourage' changed from Old French 'descourager' and Middle English forms such as 'discouragen' and eventually became the modern English word 'discourage'.
Initially, it meant 'to take away heart or spirit' (to deprive of courage), but over time it evolved into its current meanings of 'to cause someone to lose confidence/enthusiasm' and 'to deter or prevent someone from doing something'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
third-person singular of 'discourage': causes (someone) to lose confidence, hope, or enthusiasm.
One harsh comment discourages many students from speaking up in class.
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Verb 2
third-person singular of 'discourage': makes someone less likely to do something; deters or prevents an action.
High prices discourages many people from buying a new car.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/25 13:59