Entry Word: heartening

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 having qualities which inspire hope <a heartening visit to the hospital, where the patient was alert and sitting up> — see hopeful 1
2 making one feel good inside <hearing how his students still appreciated him after all those years was heartening to the music teacher> — see heartwarming
3 pointing toward a happy outcome <the accomplishments of the first day were a heartening start to our renovation of the house> — see favorable 2