To give someone courage, hope, or confidence; to make someone feel more positive or determined despite difficulties.
From 'heart' (Old English 'heorte') + the verb-forming suffix '-en' (Old English causative suffix). Emerged in Middle English with the idea of 'putting heart into someone' or strengthening their courage.
The verb 'hearten' is less common than 'dishearten,' which suggests we talk more about losing hope than gaining it—a linguistic bias that might reflect human psychology or just what writers find more dramatic.
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