discourage

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 ]