rencounter

American  

[ren-koun-ter] / rɛnˈkaʊn tər /

noun

1. a hostile meeting; battle.

2. a contest of any kind.

3. a casual meeting.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to encounter casually.

2. Obsolete. to meet hostilely.

rencounter British  

/ rɛnˈkaʊntə /

noun

1. an unexpected meeting

2. a hostile clash, as of two armies, adversaries, etc; skirmish

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verb

1. to meet (someone) unexpectedly

Etymology

Origin of rencounter

From the Middle French word rencontrer, dating back to 1495–1505. See re-, encounter

Example Sentences

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 Project Gutenberg

The new intimacy had only lately been begotten out of a chance rencounter, and perhaps it would never have been born if Roland, her eldest brother, had not condemned Lily from the altitude of his twenty-year-old priggishness and found in Dorothy a supporter of his point of view.

From Project Gutenberg

After the first awkwardness of such a rencounter had worn off Dorothy found Wilfred entertaining.

From Project Gutenberg

They write from Stockholm, that the Court of London has thought proper to make representations to that of Sweden, concerning the rencounter which a convoy of merchant ships, under the escort of the Swedish frigate, the Jaramas, had with the English squadron of Commodore Stewart, who would have visited these merchant ships.

From Project Gutenberg

I think, in nature, can be supposed more terrible than such a rencounter,—so imprompt! so ill prepared to stand the shock of it as Dr. Slop was.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• challenge
• discussion
• game
• match
• meeting
• sport
• tournament
• trial