transitive verb.
To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence.
transitive verb.
To give support to; foster.
transitive verb.
To stimulate; spur.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
To give courage to; inspire with courage, spirit, or firmness of mind; incite to action or perseverance.
To help forward; promote; give support to: as, to encourage manufactures.
To make stronger.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
transitive verb.
To give courage to; to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope; to raise, or to increase, the confidence of; to animate; enhearten; to incite; to help forward; -- the opposite of discourage.