I. in-ˈkau̇n-tər, en- verb
( en·coun·tered ; en·coun·ter·ing -ˈkau̇n-t(ə-)riŋ)
Etymology: Middle English encountren, from Anglo-French encuntrer, from Medieval Latin incontrare, from Late Latin incontra toward, from Latin in- + contra against — more at counter
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to meet as an adversary or enemy
b. : to engage in conflict with
2. : to come upon face-to-face
3. : to come upon or experience especially unexpectedly
encounter difficulties
intransitive verb
: to meet especially by chance
II. noun
Date: 14th century
1. : a meeting between hostile factions or persons : a sudden often violent clash
an encounter between the police and demonstrators
2.
a. : a chance meeting
an accidental encounter
b. : a particular kind of meeting or experience with another person
a romantic encounter
3. : a coming into the vicinity of a celestial body
the Martian encounter of a spacecraft