See Also: encounter(medicine)
encounter(1)(dictionary)
encounter(2)(dictionary)
re-encounter(dictionary)
Brief Encounter(dictionary)
encounter group(medicine)
encounter 1, verb(dictionary)
encounter 2, noun(dictionary)

encounter(1) (iou)



encounter noun. Also incounter. ME.
[Old & mod. French encontre, formed as ENCOUNTER verb.]
a. A meeting of adversaries in conflict; a duel, a battle. ME.
Sir W. Scott The Saxons..and the Gael..had many a desperate and bloody encounter. fig.: Shakespeare Richard III This keen encounter of our wits.
b. gen. A meeting, esp. by chance or unexpectedly. M17.
Henry Miller As a result of that chance encounter on the street we met frequently thereafter. B. Lovell The first encounter of a spacecraft with Saturn.
c. A session, or participation, in an encounter group. M20.
A lovers' meeting; an amatory approach. rare (Shakes.). Only in L16.
Manner, behaviour. rare (Shakes.) Only in L16.
Comb.: encounter group: of people seeking emotional adjustment through close physical and emotional contact with one another.