buoyed Definition

buoy
noun

buoys
1. A brightly-coloured floating object fastened to the bottom of the sea by an anchor, to warn ships of rocks, etc or to mark channels, etc. See also lifebuoy, breeches buoy.

Thesaurus: beacon, float, marker, signal.

verb buoyed, buoying

1. To mark (eg an obstruction or a channel) with a buoy or buoys.
2. To keep it afloat.

Form: buoy something up (usually)
3. To raise or lift their spirits; to encourage, cheer or excite them.

Thesaurus: boost, cheer, encourage, hearten, lift, raise, support, sustain; Antonym: depress.
Form: buoy someone up (usually)
4. To sustain, support or boost it.

Example: profits were buoyed by the new economic confidence
Form: buoy something up (often)
intr
5. To rise or float to the surface.

Etymology: 15c as boye a float.