Nearby Words

encountered

[en-koun-ter] Origin

en·coun·ter

[en-koun-ter]
verb (used with object)
1.
to come upon or meet with, especially unexpectedly: to encounter a new situation.
2.
to meet with or contend against (difficulties, opposition, etc.): We encounter so many problems in our work.
3.
to meet (a person, military force, etc.) in conflict: We will encounter the enemy at dawn.
verb (used without object)
4.
to meet, especially unexpectedly or in conflict: We were angry when we encountered, but we parted with smiles.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Encountered is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
noun
5.
a meeting with a person or thing, especially a casual, unexpected, or brief meeting: Our running into each other was merely a chance encounter.
6.
a meeting of persons or groups that are in conflict or opposition; combat; battle: Another such encounter and we may lose the war.
7.
Psychology. a meeting of two or more people, as the members of an encounter group or a number of married couples (marriage encounter), conducted to promote direct emotional confrontations among the participants, especially as a form of therapy (encounter therapy).

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English encountren < Anglo-French enco(u)ntrer; Old French < Vulgar Latin *incontrāre, equivalent to in- in-1 + -contrāre, derivative of contrā against; see counter3

en·coun·ter·er, noun
pre·en·coun·ter, noun, verb (used with object)
re·en·coun·ter, verb, noun
un·en·coun·tered, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To encountered
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

encounter
c.1300, "meeting of adversaries," from O.Fr. encountrer "confront," from encontre (prep. and adv.) "against, counter to," from L.L. incontra "in front of," from L. in- "in" + contra "against." Weakened sense of "casually meet" first recorded in English early 16c. Related: Encountered; encountering.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature