The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Encouragement \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.
      [1913 Webster]

            All generous encouragement of arts.   --Otway.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            To think of his paternal care,
            Is a most sweet encouragement to prayer. --Byron.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

encouragement
    n 1: the expression of approval and support [ant:
         discouragement]
    2: the act of giving hope or support to someone [syn: boost,
       encouragement]
    3: the feeling of being encouraged