encounter

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a minor short-term fight
  2. noun a casual or unexpected convergence
  3. noun a casual meeting with a person or thing

Etymology

From Middle English encountren, from Anglo-Norman encountrer, Old French encontrer (“to confront”), from encontre (“against, counter to”), from Late Latin incontrā (“in front of”) itself from Latin in (“in”) + contrā (“against”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

brush, clash, skirmish

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