encounter English · revision 6724

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1297|origins=la contra}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˈkaʊntə/, /ɪŋˈkaʊntə/ ''(UK)''; /ɪnˈkaʊntɚ/, /ɪŋˈkaʊntɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English encountren, [[bor|fro|encontrer|t=to meet; to confront]], with the noun from [[m|fro|encontre|t=meeting; fight]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) the noun use of the preposition encontre, against, from [[la-lat|incontrā|t=in front of]], from [[m|la|in|t=in]] and [[m|la|contrā|t=against]] (see [[contra]] and [[counter]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A meeting of adversaries, a confrontation: 1297 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1300 in Barnhart and Etymonline;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the verb, to meet as an adversary, about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The weakened sense, to meet casually or unexpectedly, is from 1520 in Barnhart, the early 16th century in Etymonline,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the noun in this sense from 1656.^(OED 1989) To come up against a difficulty or problem follows.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) In psychology, encounter therapy and the ''encounter group'' are from 1967, from the work of Carl Rogers.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A close encounter is a sighting of an alien spacecraft.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – a hostile meeting.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – the verb, to confront.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1520 – to meet unexpectedly.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1967 – encounter group.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To meet unexpectedly; to come upon.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To be faced with a difficulty: ''encounter problems''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To meet in battle or conflict.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A meeting, especially an unplanned or brief one.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A hostile meeting; a [[clash]] or [[battle]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[encounterer]]

+ * [[unencountered]]

+ * [[reencounter]]

+ * [[rencounter]]

+ * [[encounter group]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[counter]]

+ * [[contra]]

+ * [[country]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}