encounter
[en-koun-ter]
- to come upon or meet with, especially unexpectedly: to encounter a new situation.
- to meet with or contend against (difficulties, opposition, etc.): We encounter so many problems in our work.
- to meet (a person, military force, etc.) in conflict: We will encounter the enemy at dawn.
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- to meet, especially unexpectedly or in conflict: We were angry when we encountered, but we parted with smiles.
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- a meeting with a person or thing, especially a casual, unexpected, or brief meeting: Our running into each other was merely a chance encounter.
- a meeting of persons or groups that are in conflict or opposition; combat; battle: Another such encounter and we may lose the war.
- Psychology. a meeting of two or more people, as the members of an encounter group or a number of married couples (marriage encounter), conducted to promote direct emotional confrontations among the participants, especially as a form of therapy (encounter therapy).
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Origin of encounter
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
detectconfrontexperiencefacebearmeetsufferfindengagecollideespysustaindescryfrontcloseundergocontendaffrontcombatgrappleExamples from the Web for encountered
Contemporary Examples
Lalo insisted during a recent interview that they encountered Chito “and his people by accident.”
We have no information yet on what other flights were in the air then, and what they encountered.
His later books drew heavily from experiences and people he encountered at the bar, including the cruel captain in The Sea-Wolf.
It was neither the best nor worst pickup line I encountered that evening.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for ShotsEmily Shire
December 26, 2014
He encountered struggles that many foreign newcomers face upon beginning a new life in America.
Historical Examples
During this session other difficulties were encountered by the Ministry.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
There, on the contrary, we encountered the only two swamps at all difficult.
She did not see him in the morning, but at noon she encountered him in the hall.
Her Father's DaughterGene Stratton-Porter
But now, strange to say, wherever she went she encountered Felicien!
The DreamEmile Zola
And then, when he had slipped his hand back into hers, he had encountered a sticky chocolate!
The Foolish LoversSt. John G. Ervine
encounter
- to come upon or meet casually or unexpectedly
- to come into conflict with (an enemy, army, etc) in battle or contest
- (tr) to be faced with; contend withhe encounters many obstacles in his work
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- a meeting with a person or thing, esp when casual or unexpected
- a hostile meeting; contest or conflict
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French encontrer, from Vulgar Latin incontrāre (unattested), from Latin in- ² + contrā against, opposite
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for encountered
encounter
v.
c.1300, "to meet as an adversary," from Old French encontrer "confront," from encontre (see encounter (n.). Weakened sense of "casually meet" first recorded in English early 16c. Related: Encountered; encountering.
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encounter
n.
c.1300, "meeting of adversaries, confrontation," from Old French encontre "meeting; fight; opportunity," noun use of preposition/adverb encontre "against, counter to" from Late Latin incontra "in front of," from Latin in- "in" (see in- (2)) + contra "against" (see contra). Modern use of the word in psychology is from 1967, from the work of U.S. psychologist Carl Rogers (1902-1987). Encounter group attested from 1967.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper