\En*cour"age*ment\, n. [Cf. F. 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.