Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Encouragement

Encouragement , noun

[Compare French encouragement.]

1.
The act of encouraging; incitement to action or to practice; as, the encouragement of youth in generosity.
All generous encouragement of arts. — Otway
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.
To think of his paternal care, Is a most sweet encouragement to prayer. — Byron