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.