ENCOUNTER (3)

En‐coun″ter, n. [[OF. encontre, fr. encontrer. See Encounter, v. t.]] 1. 1. A meeting face to face; a running against; a sudden or incidental meeting; an interview.
To shun the encounter of the vulgar crowd. Pope. 2. 2. A meeting, with hostile purpose; hence, a combat; a battle; as, a bloody encounter.
As one for . . . fierce encounters fit. Spenser. To join their dark encounter in mid-air. Milton. Syn. — Contest; conflict; fight; combat; assault; rencounter; attack; engagement; onset. See Contest.