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Added 5 October 2026

discourage

/dɪsˈkʌɹɪd͡ʒ/ verb

In Latin: dehortor Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about discourage at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject.
Don't be discouraged by the amount of work left to do: you'll finish it in good time.
To persuade somebody not to do (something).

noun

Lack of courage

Origin

From Middle French descourager (modern French décourager), from Old French descouragier, from des- and corage. By surface analysis, dis- + courage.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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