%courage%

n. [ OE. corage heart, mind, will, courage, OF. corage, F. courage, fr. a LL. derivative of L. cor heart. See Heart. ] 1. The heart; spirit; temper; disposition. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

So priketh hem nature in here corages. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

My lord, cheer up your spirits; our foes are nigh,
and this soft courage makes your followers faint. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Heart; inclination; desire; will. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

I'd such a courage to do him good. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That quality of mind which enables one to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear, or fainting of heart; valor; boldness; resolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

The king-becoming graces . . .
Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude,
I have no relish of them. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Courage that grows from constitution often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it. Addison.

Syn. -- Heroism; bravery; intrepidity; valor; gallantry; daring; firmness; hardihood; boldness; dauntlessness; resolution. See Heroism. -- Courage, Bravery, Fortitude, Intrepidity, Gallantry, Valor. Courage is that firmness of spirit and swell of soul which meets danger without fear. Bravery is daring and impetuous courage, like that of one who has the reward continually in view, and displays his courage in daring acts. Fortitude has often been styled “passive courage, ” and consist in the habit of encountering danger and enduring pain with a steadfast and unbroken spirit. Valor is courage exhibited in war, and can not be applied to single combats; it is never used figuratively. Intrepidity is firm, unshaken courage. Gallantry is adventurous courage, which courts danger with a high and cheerful spirit. A man may show courage, fortitude, or intrepidity in the common pursuits of life, as well as in war. Valor, bravery, and gallantry are displayed in the contest of arms. Valor belongs only to battle; bravery may be shown in single combat; gallantry may be manifested either in attack or defense; but in the latter case, the defense is usually turned into an attack. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To inspire with courage; to encourage. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Paul writeth unto Timothy . . . to courage him. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. courageux. ] Possessing, or characterized by, courage; brave; bold. [ 1913 Webster ]

With this victory, the women became most courageous and proud, and the men waxed . . . fearful and desperate. Stow.

Syn. -- Gallant; brave; bold; daring; valiant; valorous; heroic; intrepid; fearless; hardy; stout; adventurous; enterprising. See Gallant. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a courageous manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being courageous; courage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Lack of courage; cowardliness. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Discouraged p. pr. & vb. n. Discouraging ] [ Pref. dis- + courage: cf. OF. descoragier, F. décourager: pref. des- (L. dis-) + corage, F. courage. See Courage. ] 1. To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject; -- the opposite of encourage; as, he was discouraged in his undertaking; he need not be discouraged from a like attempt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Col. iii. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To dishearten one with respect to; to discountenance; to seek to check by disfavoring; to deter one from; as, they discouraged his efforts.

Syn. -- To dishearten; dispirit; depress; deject; dissuade; disfavor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being discouraged; easily disheartened. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. descouragement, F. découragement. ] 1. The act of discouraging, or the state of being discouraged; depression or weakening of confidence; dejection. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which discourages; that which deters, or tends to deter, from an undertaking, or from the prosecution of anything; a determent; as, the revolution was commenced under every possible discouragement. “Discouragements from vice.” Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who discourages. [ 1913 Webster ]

The promoter of truth and the discourager of error. Sir G. C. Lewis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Discouragement. [ Obs. ] Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Encouraged p. pr. & vb. n. Encouraging ] [ F. encourager; pref. en- (L. in) + courage courage. See Courage. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

David encouraged himself in the Lord. 1 Sam. xxx. 6.

Syn. -- To embolden; inspirit; animate; enhearten; hearten; incite; cheer; urge; impel; stimulate; instigate; countenance; comfort; promote; advance; forward; strengthen. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. made to feel more courage, hope, or optimism.
Syn. -- bucked up(predicate). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Cf. F. encouragement. ] 1. The act of encouraging; incitement to action or to practice; as, the encouragement of youth in generosity. [ 1913 Webster ]

All generous encouragement of arts. Otway. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which serves to incite, support, promote, or advance, as favor, countenance, reward, etc.; incentive; increase of confidence; as, the fine arts find little encouragement among a rude people. [ 1913 Webster ]

To think of his paternal care,
Is a most sweet encouragement to prayer. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who encourages, incites, or helps forward; a favorer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The pope is . . . a great encourager of arts. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To encourage again. [ 1913 Webster ]