1.  encouragement(n = noun.communication) - the expression of approval and support;
is a kind of approval, commendation
has particulars: abetment, abettal, instigation, cheering, shouting, advancement, furtherance, promotion, fosterage, fostering, goad, goading, prod, prodding, spur, spurring, urging, incitement, provocation, vote of confidence
Antonym: discouragement

2.  encouragement(n = noun.act) boost - the act of giving hope or support to someone;
is a kind of aid, assist, assistance, help
has particulars: morale booster, morale building
Derived form verb encourage₁

3.  encouragement(n = noun.feeling) - the feeling of being encouraged;
is a kind of hope
Derived form verb encourage₂

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." [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." [1913 Webster]

N  motive, springs of action, wellsprings of action, reason, ground, call, principle, by end, by purpose, mainspring, primum mobile, keystone, the why and the wherefore, pro and con, reason why, secret motive, arriere pensee, intention, inducement, consideration, attraction, loadstone, magnet, magnetism, magnetic force, allectation, allective, temptation, enticement, agacerie, allurement, witchery, bewitchment, bewitchery, charm, spell, fascination, blandishment, cajolery, seduction, seducement, honeyed words, voice of the tempter, song of the Sirens forbidden fruit, golden apple, persuasibility, persuasibleness, attractability, impressibility, susceptibility, softness, persuasiveness, attractiveness, tantalization, influence, prompting, dictate, instance, impulse, impulsion, incitement, incitation, press, instigation, provocation, inspiration, persuasion, suasion, encouragement, advocacy, exhortation, advice, solicitation, lobbyism, pull, incentive, stimulus, spur, fillip, whip, goad, ankus, rowel, provocative, whet, dram, bribe, lure, decoy, decoy duck, bait, trail of a red herring, bribery and corruption, sop, sop for Cerberus, prompter, tempter, seducer, seductor, instigator, firebrand, incendiary, Siren, Circe, agent provocateur, lobbyist, impulsive, motive, suasive, suasory, persuasive, persuasory, hortative, hortatory, protreptical, inviting, tempting suasive, suasory, seductive, attractive, fascinating, provocative, induced, disposed, persuadable, spellbound, instinct with, smitten with, infatuated, inspired, by, because, therefore, from this motive, from that motive, for this reason, for that reason, for, by reason of, for the sake of, count of, out of, from, as, forasmuch as, for all the world, on principle, fax mentis incendium gloriae, temptation hath a music for all ears, to beguile many and be beguiled by one.

N  relief, deliverance, refreshment, easement, softening, alleviation, mitigation, palliation, soothing, lullaby, solace, consolation, comfort, encouragement, lenitive, restorative, cushion, crumb of comfort, balm in Gilead, relieving, consolatory, soothing, assuaging, assuasive, balmy, balsamic, lenitive, palliative, anodyne, curative, here comes a man of comfort.