Discourage

(kŭr'ej), v. t. [imp. & p. p. DISCOURAGED; p. pr. & vb. n. DISCOURAGING.] [Prefix dis and courage, q. v.; O. Fr. descourager, now décourager, It. discouraggiare, scoraggiare, Pr. descorar, descatallar, Sp. discourazonar.] 1. To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress spirits in; to deprive of confidence; to deject. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Col. iii. 21. 2. To deter one from; to dishearten one with respect to; to discountenance; to seek to check by disfavoring; as, they discouraged his efforts as much as they could. Syn.—To dishearten; dispirit; depress; deject; dissuade; disfavor.