Reading Theme:
Encounter: Definition, Usage & Key Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：come across (encounter)
encounter
/ɪnˈkaʊn.tər/
vt./n.
To experience something, especially something difficult or bad, by chance.
come across
➕
/kʌm əˈkrɒs/
vt./n.
To meet or experience something unexpectedly, often something challenging or unpleasant.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old French 'encontrer' (meet face to face, fight against).
💡 Mnemonic
Think of EN-COUNTER: going IN to a COUNTER (shop) and unexpectedly meeting someone there.
📖 Example
While hiking, we encountered a heavy storm and had to turn back.
While hiking, we came across a heavy storm and had to turn back.
🔗 Collocations
encounter difficulties – to face problems or obstacles
encounter resistance – to meet opposition or pushback
encounter a problem – to come upon or run into an issue
🔄 Synonyms
face (vt.) – to confront or deal with a situation
confront (vt.) – to come face to face with a challenge or enemy
experience (vt.) – to go through an event or situation
🚫 Antonyms
📖 Cultural Story
Derived from the Old French 'encontrer', which itself came from the Latin 'in contra' (against). It originally meant to meet in conflict or face-to-face. Today, it's commonly used to describe unexpected meetings or experiences, especially in genres like science fiction (e.g., 'close encounter') and gaming (e.g., 'random encounter').
Meaning 2：chance meeting (encounter)
encounter
/ɪnˈkaʊn.tər/
vt./n.
A meeting that happens by chance, often unexpectedly.
chance meeting
➕
/tʃɑːns ˈmiːtɪŋ/
vt./n.
An unexpected or unplanned meeting with someone.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
I had a pleasant encounter with an old classmate at the airport yesterday.
I had a pleasant chance meeting with an old classmate at the airport yesterday.
🔗 Collocations
close encounter – a very near or intimate unexpected meeting, often used for UFO sightings
brief encounter – a short and often meaningful unplanned meeting
unexpected encounter – a meeting that was not foreseen or planned
🔄 Synonyms
meeting (n.) – an event where people come together
rendezvous (n.) – a meeting at an agreed time and place
run-in (n.) – an unexpected, often brief, meeting or confrontation
🚫 Antonyms
avoidance (n.) – the act of staying away from someone or something
planned meeting (n. phrase) – a gathering that is arranged in advance
Wordbook
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