hearten
UK: ˈhɑːtn | US: ˈhɑːrtn
vt. to give courage or confidence to; encourage
vt. to cheer or invigorate
The word "hearten" combines "heart," symbolizing courage or emotional core (from Old English heorte), with the suffix "-en," used to form verbs meaning "to make or become." Historically, "heart" was associated with inner strength and vitality. By adding "-en," the term evolved to mean "to instill courage" or "to uplift someone's spirit," reflecting the metaphorical connection between the heart and emotional resilience.
Her kind words heartened the team after the loss.
The coach's speech heartened the players before the final match.
A sunny morning can hearten even the gloomiest mood.
Volunteers worked tirelessly to hearten disaster survivors.
His recovery progress heartened the doctors and family alike.