Forms: 3 encontre, 5 encountre, 6– encounter. Also 6–8 incounter. [a. OF. encontre masc. and fem. (cf. Pr. encontre, Sp. encuentro, It. incontro), f. late L. incontrāre: see next.] A meeting face to face.
1. A meeting face to face; a meeting (of adversaries or opposing forces) in conflict; hence, a battle, skirmish, duel, etc.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8051. He vond hard encontre in norþhumberlande.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 5083. But than cam encountre strong Folk of higher Inde among.
1575. Chr. Prayers, in Priv. Prayers (1851), 542. How unseemly an encounter is this, wherein the flesh being matched against the spirit … striveth with him for victory.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. (1589), 104. An incounter of their armies, wherein Cæsar, being at that time the weaker, had the woorst.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. ii. 115. To leaue this keene encounter of our wittes.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 718. Winds the signal blow To joyn thir dark Encounter in mid air.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 229. I … have no heart to this incounter.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, i. In these vales … the Saxons … and the Gael … had many a desperate and bloody encounter.
1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. xvii. 221. We must shrink from the encounter with death.
† b. attrib. Obs. rare.
1598. Stow, Surv., xxxix. (1603), 386. [A champion in the lists says] though my horse fayle me, I will not fayle an incounter companion.
2. The fact of meeting with (a person or thing), esp. undesignedly or casually. Const. of, with.
1656. Finett, For. Ambass., 22. In case he should be put to it upon any incounter of negotiation or otherwise.
1665. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 161. We are infinitely defective as to … excuses … upon sudden and unpremeditated encounters.
a. 1699. Lady Halkett, Autobiog. (1875), 9. I must here relate a little odd Incounter.
1794. Godwin, Cal. Williams, 230. The state of calamity to which my … persecutor had reduced me, had made the encounter even of a den of robbers, a fortunate adventure.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., V. 93. There was constant risk of an encounter which might have produced several duels.
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., Wks. (Bohn), III. 5. The encounter with superior persons on terms allowing the happiest intercourse.
† b. An amatory interview. Obs. rare.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, III. iii. 161. The Prince … saw a far off in the Orchard this amiable incounter. Ibid., IV. i. 94. Who hath indeed most like a liberall villaine, Confest the vile encounters they haue had A thousand times in secret.
† c. An accosting, address. Obs. Cf. ENCOUNTER v. 7.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. vii. 41. For I would preuent The loose encounters of lasciuious men.
† 3. Manner of meeting another; style of address, behavior. Obs.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. v. 54. That with your strange encounter much amazed me. Ibid. (1602), Ham., V. ii. 197. The tune of the time, and outward habite of encounter. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., III. ii. 50. With what encounter so uncurrent I have strained to appear thus.
† 4. An idea that suddenly presents itself, as it were by accident; a happy thought. Obs. rare.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. viii. 34. Many times with encounters of extraordinary Fancy. Ibid. (1678), Nat. Philos., i. 11. Wonder … I never thought upon’t before, for it is a very happy encounter.
5. The fact of being met with; occurrence. rare.
1870. Lowell, Among My Books, Ser. I. (1873), 203. Things of daily encounter.
† 6. Proposed as a name for the rhetorical figure ANTITHESIS. Obs. rare–1.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xix. (Arb.), 219. Ye haue another figure very pleasant and fit for amplification, which to answer the Greeke terme, we may call the encounter.
