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encounters

 - 3 dictionary results

en⋅coun⋅ter

  [en-koun-ter]
–verb (used with object)
1. to come upon or meet with, esp. 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, esp. unexpectedly or in conflict: We were angry when we encountered, but we parted with smiles.
–noun
5. a meeting with a person or thing, esp. 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, esp. as a form of therapy (encounter therapy).
Use encounters in a Sentence
Origin:
1250–1300; ME encountren < AF enco(u)ntrer; OF < VL *incontrāre, equiv. to in- in- 1 + -contrāre, deriv. of contrā against; see counter 3

Related forms:
en⋅coun⋅ter⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To encounters
en·coun·ter   (ěn-koun'tər)   
n.  

  1. A meeting, especially one that is unplanned, unexpected, or brief: a chance encounter in the park.

    1. A hostile or adversarial confrontation; a contest: a tense naval encounter.

    2. An often violent meeting; a clash.

v.   en·coun·tered, en·coun·ter·ing, en·coun·ters

v.   tr.

  1. To meet, especially unexpectedly; come upon: encountered an old friend on the street.

  2. To confront in battle or contention.

  3. To come up against: encounter numerous obstacles.

v.   intr.
To meet, especially unexpectedly.

[Middle English encountre, from Old French, from encontrer, to meet, from Late Latin incontrāre : Latin in-, in; see en-1 + Latin contrā, against; see kom in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

encounter 
1297, "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 Eng. 1520.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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