Origin: 1400–50; late ME
discoragen < MF
descorager, OF
descoragier. See dis- 1 , courage 
Related forms: dis⋅cour⋅ag⋅er, noun
dis⋅cour⋅age⋅a⋅ble, adjective
dis⋅cour⋅ag⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Synonyms:
1. daunt, depress, deject, overawe, cow, abash. Discourage, dismay, intimidate mean to dishearten or frighten. To discourage is to dishearten by expressing disapproval or by suggesting that a contemplated action or course will probably fail: He was discouraged from going into business. To dismay is to dishearten completely: Her husband's philandering dismayed her. To intimidate is to frighten, as by threats of force, violence, or dire consequences: to intimidate a witness.
Antonyms:
1. encourage.
[di-skur-ij, -skuhr-] 
verb, -aged, -ag⋅ing.