Encounter \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Encounter \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Encounter \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)