rencontre

1. (now rare) A chance or unexpected meeting or encounter.Examples: "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."; "Mr. Gadsden hesitated, jealous and scrupulous now in his actions where ladies were concerned, and more especially anxious on that day that the two circumstances, the rencontre of the morning and the visit of the evening, should not be coupled together by the Northington people."; "Fancy our late monarch George III when he heard of the revolt of the North American colonies: fancy brazen Goliath when little David stepped forward and claimed a meeting; and you have the feelings of Mr. Reginald Cuff when this rencontre was proposed to him."archaic