encounter

 
Pronunciation: /ɪnˈkaʊntə, ɛn-/

verb

[with object]
  • 1unexpectedly be faced with or experience (something hostile or difficult): we have encountered one small problem
  • 2meet (someone) unexpectedly: what do we know about the people we encounter in our daily lives?

noun

  • an unexpected or casual meeting with someone or something: she felt totally unnerved by the encounter
  • a confrontation or unpleasant struggle: his close encounter with death

Origin:

Middle English (in the senses 'meet as an adversary' and 'a meeting of adversaries'; formerly also as incounter): from Old French encontrer (verb), encontre (noun), based on Latin in- 'in' + contra 'against'