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