encounter

/in-ˈkau̇n-tər/

Middle English encountren, from Anglo-French encuntrer, from Medieval Latin incontrare, from Late Latin incontra toward, from Latin in- + contra against

verb

  1. to meet as an adversary or enemy

  2. to engage in conflict with

  3. to come upon face-to-face

noun

  1. a meeting between hostile factions or persons : a sudden often violent clash

  2. a chance meeting

  3. a particular kind of meeting or experience with another person

an encounter between the police and demonstrators

noun

  1. a usually unstructured group that seeks to develop the capacity of the individual to express feelings and to form emotional ties by unrestrained confrontation of individuals