Webster's English Dictionary

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encounter

1. en.coun.ter \in-'kau.nt-*r\ \-'kau.nt-*-rin, -'kau.n-trin\ vt or 
   en.coun.ter.ing [ME encountren, fr. OF encontrer, fr. ML incontrare, fr. LL 
   (Xincontra toward, fr. L in- + contra against 1a: to meet as an adversary 
   or enemy  1b: to engage in conflict with  2: to come upon face to face : 
   MEET  3: to come upon unexpectedly 
2. encounter n 1a: a meeting between hostile factions or persons  1b: a 
   sudden often violent clash : COMBAT  2a: a chance meeting  2b: a direct 
   often momentary meeting  ENCOUNTER may be unexpected and sometimes violent 
   but not of long duration; a SKIRMISH is a slight and often preliminary 
   encounter between light detachments; a BRUSH is a short but brisk skirmish 
   SYN syn ENCOUNTER, SKIRMISH, BRUSH mean a minor battle. An