Encouragement, n.
Etymology: [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.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists encouragement only as an antonym, under despair.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given