rencounter
Americannoun
-
a hostile meeting; battle.
-
a contest of any kind.
-
a casual meeting.
verb (used with or without object)
-
to encounter casually.
-
Obsolete. to meet hostilely.
noun
-
an unexpected meeting
-
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.
First, there was the old and ever present cause of solicitude in relation to his own origin, the doubtful nature of which had been the remote cause of the unhappy rencounter of the morning.
From The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 1 of 2 or, The Recluse of Jamestown; An historical romance of the Old Dominion by Caruthers, William A. (Alexander)
This rencounter was a real misfortune; as, in the battle which ensued, the former disobedience and mad vagaries of Landais, her commander, were about to be converted into absolute treason.
From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 14 by Various
It was evident, she thought, that Emma as yet knew nothing of that strange rencounter on the stairs.
From Victor's Triumph Sequel to A Beautiful Fiend by Southworth, Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte
From these extracts it will be seen how commanding officers, when they write their official reports of a night rencounter, are apt to draw on their imaginations for the facts.
From Personal Recollections of a Cavalryman With Custer's Michigan Cavalry Brigade in the Civil War by Kidd, James Harvey
But really the possible alternatives of rencounter are far less numerous.
From Logic, Inductive and Deductive by Minto, William
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.
