Discourage
/dɪsˈkʌr.ɪdʒ/noun
To cause someone to lose confidence, enthusiasm, or determination.
Did you know?The word comes from French and Latin roots meaning “to take away courage,” showing how English often turns emotions into something you can literally lose.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
cor
“heart”
Latin
Latin
coraticum / coraticare
“to hearten, give courage (late Latin forms connected with cor 'heart')”
Old French
OF
discouragier
“to deprive of courage, dishearten”
14th–15th Century
Middle English
discouragen
“to dishearten, make less bold”
Modern English
English
discourage
“to deprive of confidence or enthusiasm”