en·coun·ter 
(ĕn-kountər)
(ĕn-kountər)n.
1. A meeting, especially one that is unplanned, unexpected, or brief: a chance encounter in the park.
2. A hostile or adversarial confrontation: a tense naval encounter.
v. en·coun·tered, en·coun·ter·ing, en·coun·ters
v.tr.
1. To meet, especially unexpectedly; come upon: encountered an old friend on the street.
2. To confront in battle or competition: encountered last year's champion.
3. To experience or undergo: We have encountered numerous obstacles.
v.intr.
To meet, especially unexpectedly.
[Middle English encountre, from Old French, from encontrer, to meet, from Late Latin incontrāre : Latin in-, in; see EN-1 + Latin contrā, against; see kom in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]