1. (n.) The act of recommending.

2. (n.) That which recommends, or commends to favor; anything procuring, or tending to procure, a favorable reception, or to secure acceptance and adoption; as, he brought excellent recommendations.

3. (n.) The state of being recommended; esteem.

advice advocacy approbation approval backing blessing character commendation counsel direction encouragement endorsement exhortation good word guidance praise promotion prompting proposal reference say-so suggestion support testimonial urging