“Rencontre” is a formal, literary word that comes from the French “rencontrer,” meaning “meet face to face.” When it first came into English in the 16th century, it was used to apply to confrontational encounters such as skirmishes or duels. However, that meaning has been dropped over time, and it’s now used in contexts closer to the French root. Today it refers instead to a casual meeting or a chance encounter. If you run into a friend you haven’t seen in years and have a quick chat, that’s a rencontre. Sometimes you’ll see the word spelled as “rencounter,” but it means the same thing.