encounter

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: brushclashskirmishmeetingcoming uponconfrontationshowdownface-offmeetrun intorun acrosscome across

WordNet 3.0

Noun (4)

  1. a minor short-term fightSynonyms: brushclashskirmish
  2. a casual or unexpected convergence“he still remembers their meeting in Paris”“there was a brief encounter in the hallway”Synonyms: meeting
  3. a casual meeting with a person or thingSynonyms: coming upon
  4. a hostile disagreement face-to-faceSynonyms: confrontationshowdownface-off

Verb (5)

  1. come together“I'll probably see you at the meeting”“How nice to see you again!”Synonyms: meetrun intorun acrosscome acrosssee
  2. come upon, as if by accident; meet with“We find this idea in Plato”“I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here”“She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day”Synonyms: findhappenchancebump
  3. be beset by“The project ran into numerous financial difficulties”Synonyms: run into
  4. experience as a reaction“My proposal met with much opposition”Synonyms: meetreceive
  5. contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle“Princeton plays Yale this weekend”“Charlie likes to play Mary”Synonyms: meetplaytake on
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Encounter \En*coun"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encountered; p. pr. & vb. n. Encountering.] [OF. encontrer; pref. en- (L. in) + contre against, L. contra. See Counter, adv.] To come against face to face; to meet; to confront, either by chance, suddenly, or deliberately; especially, to meet in opposition or with hostile intent; to engage in conflict with; to oppose; to struggle with; as, to encounter a friend in traveling; two armies encounter each other; to encounter obstacles or difficulties, to encounter strong evidence of a truth. [1913 Webster]

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. --Acts xvii. 18. [1913 Webster]

I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Encounter \En*coun"ter\, v. i. To meet face to face; to have a meeting; to meet, esp. as enemies; to engage in combat; to fight; as, three armies encountered at Waterloo. [1913 Webster]

I will encounter with Andronicus. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Perception and judgment, employed in the investigation of all truth, have in the first place to encounter with particulars. --Tatham. [1913 Webster]

Encounter \En*coun"ter\, n. [OF. encontre, fr. encontrer. See Encounter, v. t.]

1.A meeting face to face; a running against; a sudden or incidental meeting; an interview. [1913 Webster]

To shun the encounter of the vulgar crowd.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

2.A meeting, with hostile purpose; hence, a combat; a battle; as, a bloody encounter. [1913 Webster]

As one for . . . fierce encounters fit.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]
To join their dark encounter in mid-air.— Milton .

Syn: Contest; conflict; fight; combat; assault; rencounter; attack; engagement; onset. See Contest. [1913 Webster]

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