Is this your crossword clue?
"encourage" is also used as a crossword clue. If that's what you saw, the answer is often egg (3 letters).
Definitions
To give support, confidence, or hope.
Word origin
From Middle English encouragen, encoragen, from Anglo-Norman encoragier, from Old French encoragier. Displaced native Old English hiertan, tyhtan, and trymman. By surface analysis, en- + courage.
Used in a sentence
“I encouraged him during his race.”
“Delia's coach encouraged her to focus on the positives.”
“The visitors we do not encourage are the many small boys who slip in unobserved and are a danger to themselves and the staff.”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer2 curated clues
01“give support”9 letters
02“Give support or confidence”9 letters
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