"tending to dishearten," 1670s, present-participle adjective from discourage. Related: Discouragingly.

1560s, "state of being discouraged;" c. 1600, "act of discouraging;" 1610s, "that which discourages;" see discourage + -ment. Perhaps based on French descouragement (12c.).

mid-15c., discoragen, "deprive of or cause to lose courage," from Old French descoragier "dishearten" (Modern French décourager), from des- "away" (see dis-) + coragier, from corage "spirit" (see courage). Meaning "express disapproval or opposition, dissuade or hinder from" is from 1640s. Related: Discouraged; discouragement; discouraging.