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unencouraging

 - 2 dictionary results

en⋅cour⋅age

  [en-kur-ij, -kuhr-]
Use unencouraging in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -aged, -ag⋅ing.
1. to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence: His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.
2. to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.: One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students.
3. to promote, advance, or foster: Poverty often encourages crime.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME encoragen < AF, MF encorag(i)er. See en- 1 , courage

Related forms:
en⋅cour⋅ag⋅er, noun
en⋅cour⋅ag⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. embolden, hearten, reassure. 2. urge; support, aid, help.

Antonyms:
1. discourage, dishearten.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

encourage 
1483, from O.Fr. encouragier, from en- "make, put in" + corage (see courage).
"As a general rule, Providence seldom vouchsafes to mortals any more than just that degree of encouragement which suffices to keep them at a reasonably full exertion of their powers." [Nathaniel Hawthorne]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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