Rencontre

noun, verb

noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A chance or unexpected meeting or encounter. archaic

    "In the entrance hall I was somewhat surprised, and my fair companion still more so, when we met Rashleigh Osbaldistone, who could not help shewing equal wonder at our rencontre."

Verb
  1. 1
    Obsolete form of rencounter. alt-of, obsolete

Example

More examples

"The Courier published, under a sentimental poetical heading, a detailed description of the rencontre, which, without too violent a departure from the exact truth, yet succeeded in making such a powerful impression on the public mind, and evoked symptoms of such lively interest, that the vigilant newspaper was induced to keep a watchful eye for the future on any further rapprochements between the Spoelmann and Grimmburg houses."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle French rencontre.

Etymology 2

From Middle English rencontren, from Middle French rencontrer.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.