Category:Encounter

En*coun"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encountered; p. pr. & vb. n. Encountering.] Etym: [OF. encontrer; pref. en- (L. in) + contre against, L. contra. See Counter, adv.]

Defn: 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. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. Acts xvii. 18. I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you. Shak.

encounter En*coun"ter, v. i.

Defn: 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. I will encounter with Andronicus. Shak. Perception and judgment, employed in the investigation of all truth, have in the first place to encounter with particulars. Tatham.

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

1. A meeting face to face; a running against; a sudden or incidental meeting; an interview. To shun the encounter of the vulgar crowd. Pope.

2. A meeting, with hostile purpose; hence, a combat; a battle; as, a bloody encounter. As one for. . . fierce encounters fit. Spenser. To join their dark encounter in mid-air. Milton .

Syn. -- Contest; conflict; fight; combat; assault; rencounter; attack; engagement; onset. See Contest.