Enhearten

/ɪnˈhɑːrtən/ verb

Definition

To make someone brave or courageous; to strengthen the spirit or resolve of a person.

Etymology

From 'enheart' plus the suffix '-en,' which intensifies the verb. This is a doubling of the encouragement concept, making it more emphatic and thoroughgoing.

Kelly Says

This is the 'super-charged' version of 'enheart'—adding '-en' at the end made it sound more serious and complete, like the difference between 'strengthen' and 'strengthen-en'; it's how English created emphasis before exclamation marks existed.

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