The word "discouragement" is spelled with a "c" rather than an "s" due to the etymology of the word. The root word is "courage," which comes from the French word "courage," meaning "heart." The prefix "dis-" means "not" or "away," so "discouragement" means "away from courage." The phonetic transcription of this word is /dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒmənt/, with the stress on the second syllable. The "c" is pronounced as /k/, while the "ou" and "a" are pronounced as /ʌ/ and /ə/, respectively.
Discouragement is an emotional state characterized by a feeling of hopelessness, dejection, or a loss of motivation. It typically arises when an individual faces challenges, setbacks, or obstacles that seem insurmountable or overwhelming. This psychological construct is often associated with feelings of disappointment, frustration, and despair.
In its essence, discouragement is a state of being demotivated and disheartened, where individuals may experience a lack of confidence in their abilities or the belief that their goals or aspirations are unattainable. It can stem from external circumstances or internal factors such as self-doubt or fear of failure.
When someone is discouraged, they may exhibit behaviors such as withdrawing from activities, showing decreased effort, or exhibiting negative self-talk. These responses can further perpetuate the feelings of discouragement, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.
Discouragement can have detrimental effects on individuals' mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. It can impede personal growth, hinder problem-solving abilities, and lead to decreased productivity in various areas of life, such as academic or professional pursuits.
However, it is important to note that discouragement is a temporary state and can be overcome with the appropriate support, strategies, and mindset. Seeking encouragement from others, practicing self-compassion, setting realistic goals, and developing resilience are all potential ways to combat discouragement and regain motivation and positivity.
The act of depriving of confidence; that which destroys or depresses courage; anything which deters from.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "discouragement" can be traced back to the Old French word "descoragement", which was derived from the verb "descoragier". This verb was a combination of the prefix "des-" meaning "reverse" or "to undo", and the word "corage", meaning "courage". Therefore, "descoragier" originally meant "to deprive of courage" or "to weaken one's courage". Over time, the word evolved into "discouragement" in English, still retaining the same meaning of "to diminish one's courage or enthusiasm".