Encounter — Defs

01 v. t. To come against face to face; to meet; to confront, either by chance, suddenly, or deliberately; especially, to meet in opposition or with …

imp. & p. p. Encountered; p. pr. & vb. n. Encountering

1.
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.

02 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.

1.
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.

03 n. A meeting face to face; a running against; a sudden or incidental meeting; an interview.

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.