Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: encontrer, from Late Latin incontra 'toward'

encounter

1 verb
     
en‧coun‧ter1 W3 [transitive]
1 to experience something, especially problems or opposition
encounter problems/difficulties
They encountered serious problems when two members of the expedition were injured.
encounter opposition/resistance
The government has encountered strong opposition to its plans to raise income tax.
The doctor had encountered several similar cases in the past.
2 formal to meet someone without planning to:
I first encountered him when studying at Cambridge.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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