Dis*cour"age*ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. descouragement, F. découragement.] 1. The act of discouraging, or the state of being discouraged; depression or weakening of confidence; dejection.

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.