a) The act of encouraging; incitement to action or to practice; as, the encouragement of youth in generosity.
All generous encouragement of arts. -Otway.
b) 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.
To think of his paternal care, Is a most sweet encouragement to prayer. -Byron.
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