IPA: /ɪmˈboʊldən/
KK: /ɪmˈboʊldən/
To make someone feel more confident or courageous.
The coach's words served to imbolden the players before the big game.
Past: imboldened
Past Participle: imboldened
Imbolden is formed from "in-" (meaning into or upon) and "bold" (from Old English "beald", meaning brave or daring) with the suffix "-en" (meaning to make or cause to be). The word means to make someone or something bold or courageous.
Think of 'making someone brave' — 'in-' means into, 'bold' means brave, and '-en' means to make.