ENCOUNTER


Meaning of ENCOUNTER in English

I. ə̇nˈkau̇ntə(r), enˈ- verb

( encountered ; encountered ; encountering -ntəriŋ also -n.triŋ ; encounters )

Etymology: Middle English encountren, from Old French encontrer, from Medieval Latin incontrare, from Late Latin incontra toward, against, from Latin in + contra against — more at counter (adverb)

transitive verb

1.

a. : to meet in the role of an adversary or enemy : confront

b. : to engage in conflict with

enemy raiding parties were encountered and driven back

2. : to come upon face to face : meet

encounter an old acquaintance on the street

3. : to come upon accidentally or unexpectedly

encounter difficulties

intransitive verb

1. obsolete : to meet in a hostile manner

2. : to come together by chance

Synonyms: see meet

II. “ sometimes ˈenˌk- noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English encountre, from Old French encontre, from encontrer, v.

1.

a. : a meeting between hostile factions or persons

b. : a sudden often violent clash : battle

a bloody encounter

2.

a. : a chance meeting : an unexpected often direct coming upon

b. : a direct often momentary meeting : momentary or temporary contact

3. : the coming of one molecule within the sphere of action of another with consequent change of direction or velocity of motion — see collision 2d

III. noun

: a coming into the vicinity of a celestial body

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.