rencounter

English

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɹɛnˈkaʊntə/

Etymology 1

From Middle English rencounteren, rencountren, from Middle French rencontrer,^[1] corresponding to re- +‎ encounter.

Alternative forms

rencontre (obsolete)

Verb

rencounter (third-person singular simple present rencounters, present participle rencountering, simple past and past participle rencountered)

(archaic, transitive) To meet, encounter, come into contact with.
(obsolete) To attack hand to hand.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
  Tho, whenas still he saw him towards pace,
  He gan rencounter him in equall race

Etymology 2

From Middle English rencountre, from the verb, after Middle French rencontre,^[2] corresponding to re- +‎ encounter.

Alternative forms

rencontre (now rare)

Noun

rencounter (plural rencounters)

(archaic) An encounter between opposing forces; a conflict.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
  Mr Nightingale promised to enquire into the state of Mr Fitzpatrick's wound, and likewise to find out some of the persons who were present at the rencounter.
- 1817 December 31 (indicated as 1818), [Walter Scott], chapter XII, in Rob Roy. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, pages 251–252:
  He had some advantage in the difference of our weapons; for his sword, as I recollect, was longer than mine, […] His obvious malignity of purpose never for a moment threw him off his guard, and he exhausted every feint and strategem proper to the science of defence; while, at the same time, he mediated the most desperate catastrophe to our rencounter.
(archaic) An encounter or chance meeting.
- 1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC:
  The Prior at length […] rode off with considerably less pomp, and in a much more apostolical condition, so far as worldly matters were concerned, than he had exhibited before this rencounter.

References

^ “rencounter, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
^ “rencounter, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

[1] “rencounter, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

[2] “rencounter, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

[1]

[2]