Lexic.us

Definition of Discourage

1. Verb. Try to prevent; show opposition to. "They discourage him from writing the letter"; "We should discourage this practice among our youth"

2. Verb. Deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged. "The bad news will discourage him"

3. Verb. Admonish or counsel in terms of someone's behavior. "Sam cannot discourage Sue "; "She warned him to be quiet"

Definition of Discourage

1. v. t. To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject; -- the opposite of encourage; as, he was discouraged in his undertaking; he need not be discouraged from a like attempt.

2. n. Lack of courage; cowardliness.

Definition of Discourage

1. Verb. (transitive) To take away or reduce the courage of. ¹

2. Verb. (transitive) To persuade somebody not to do something. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Discourage

1. [v -AGED, -AGING, -AGES]

Medical Definition of Discourage

1. 1. To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject; the opposite of encourage; as, he was discouraged in his undertaking; he need not be discouraged from a like attempt. "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." (Col. Iii. 21) 2. To dishearten one with respect to; to discountenance; to seek to check by disfavoring; to deter one from; as, they discouraged his efforts. Synonym: To dishearten, dispirit, depress, deject, dissuade, disfavor. Origin: Pref. Dis- + courage: cf. OF. Descoragier, F. Decourager: pref. Des- (L. Dis-) + corage, F. Courage. See Courage. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Discourage

discount store discount stores discountability discountable discounted discountenance discountenanced discountenancer discountenancers discountenances

discountenancing discounter discounters discounting discounts discourage (current term) discourageable discouraged discouragement discouragements

discourager discouragers discourages discourageth discouraging discouragingly discoure discoured discoures discouring

Literary usage of Discourage

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Synonyms Discriminated: A Complete Catalogue of Synonymous Words in the by Charles John Smith (1871)
"To discourage (IV. courage) is to prevent from action. гт to lessen energy in action by suca ... Hence discourage admits of degrees, but deter is absolute. ..."

2. Financing an Enterprise by Hugh Ronald Conyngton (1921)
"Propaganda to discourage Competition Besides the obstacles, legitimate and illegitimate, thus placed by the Germans in the way of the establishment of an ..."

3. The Edinburgh Review by Sydney Smith (1869)
"Accordingly it is the gist of many of Plutarch's ' Political ' Precepts' to discourage the passion for migration to great cities, and especially to the ..."

4. The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Containing His Correspondence, and His by Alexander Hamilton (1851)
"... I suppose to be correct views of the j ust and necessary authority of this department, I trust that nothing I have said will tend to discourage freedom ..."

5. Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People: A Report of the Surgeon General by M. Joycelyn Elders (1997)
"Community Programs to discourage Tobacco Use Introduction J Community-based strategies to prevent smoking are important adjuncts to school-based programs. ..."

Other Resources: