Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Discouragement \Dis*cour"age*ment\, n. [Cf. OF. descouragement,
   F. d['e]couragement.]
   1. The act of discouraging, or the state of being
      discouraged; depression or weakening of confidence;
      dejection.

   2. That which discourages; that which deters, or tends to
      deter, from an undertaking, or from the prosecution of
      anything; a determent; as, the revolution was commenced
      under every possible discouragement. ``Discouragements
      from vice.'' --Swift.

Source : WordNet®

discouragement
     n 1: the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles [syn: {disheartenment},
           {dismay}]
     2: the expression of opposition and disapproval [ant: {encouragement}]
     3: the act of discouraging; "the discouragement of petty theft"