rencounter
Americannoun
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a hostile meeting; battle.
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a contest of any kind.
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a casual meeting.
verb (used with or without object)
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to encounter casually.
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Obsolete. to meet hostilely.
noun
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an unexpected meeting
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a hostile clash, as of two armies, adversaries, etc; skirmish
verb
Etymology
Origin of rencounter
From the Middle French word rencontrer, dating back to 1495–1505. See re-, encounter
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I was beginning to recover my tranquillity, when the appearance of Mr. Talton drove me from your protection:—of my subsequent rencounter with the smugglers, I have already informed you.
From The Mysterious Wanderer, Vol. III A Novel in Three Volumes by Sophia Reeve
After the first awkwardness of such a rencounter had worn off Dorothy found Wilfred entertaining.
From The Vanity Girl by Compton MacKenzie
Guy Fawkes lingered for a moment, doubting whether he should mention his rencounter with Humphrey Chetham.
From Guy Fawkes or The Gunpowder Treason by William Harrison Ainsworth
Without a thought they began a sort of challenging rencounter with horse-artillery and cavalry.
From The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte Vol. IV. (of IV.) by William Milligan Sloane
Concealing himself from any chance of a rencounter, he allotted a space of twelve minutes by his watch, and time never paced more tardy with him in all his life.
From Parson Kelly by Andrew Lang
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.