English
encounter
Encounter comes from Anglo-Norman encountrer, from Late Latin incontrā ‘in front of’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁én ‘in’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁én‘in’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*en‘in’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEin
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEincontrā‘in front of’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400encountrer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500encountren
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1587–1588encounter
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁én‘in’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*en‘in’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEin
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEincontrā‘in front of’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400encountrer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500encountren
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1587–1588encounter
Earliest quotation: c. 1587–1588, Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […]: “Techelles, and the reſt prepare your ſwordes: I meane…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁én ‘in’
in, internal, entrance, indigenous, intern, endo, dysentery, interregnum, enteral, 31 more
through Proto-Italic *en ‘in’
impulse, incubation, incense, impel, incubus, incubate, censer, 7 more
through Latin in
intimate, ensemble, intestine, envelop, agog, emplacement, intimation, 5 more
Today it means
verb To meet (someone) or find (something), especially unexpectedly.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₁én / encounter