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Encounter vs Affray - What's the difference?

encounter | affray | Related terms |

Encounter is a related term of affray.


As verbs the difference between encounter and affray

is that encounter is to meet (someone) or find (something) unexpectedly while affray is to startle from quiet; to alarm.

As nouns the difference between encounter and affray

is that encounter is an unplanned or unexpected meeting while affray is the act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack.

encounter

English

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete) * incounter (archaic) * incountre (obsolete)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To meet (someone) or find (something) unexpectedly.
  • To confront (someone or something) face to face.
  • (ambitransitive) To engage in conflict, as with an enemy.
    • Three armies encountered at Waterloo.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I will encounter with Andronicus.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An unplanned or unexpected meeting.
  • :
  • *
  • *:That was Selwyn's first encounter with the Ruthvens. A short time afterward at the opera Gerald dragged him into a parterre to say something amiable to one of the amiable dĂ©butante Craig girls—and Selwyn found himself again facing Alixe.
  • A hostile meeting; a confrontation or skirmish.
  • A sudden, often violent clash, as between combatants.
  • (label) A match between two opposing sides.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 29, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC Sport
    • , title= Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal , passage=Andre Santos equalised and the outstanding Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead for the first time before Juan Mata's spectacular strike set up the finale for an enthralling encounter .}}

    Synonyms

    * (unplanned meeting ): * (hostile meeting ): clash, confrontation, brush, skirmish

    Derived terms

    * close encounter * encounter group

    affray

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack.
  • A tumultuous assault or quarrel.
  • The fighting of two or more persons, in a public place, to the terror of others.
    • The affray in the busy marketplace caused great terror and disorder.

    Synonyms

    * fray, brawl. * alarm, terror, fright.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To startle from quiet; to alarm.
  • * Chaucer
    • Smale foules a great heap / That had afrayed [affrayed] me out of my sleep.
  • To frighten; to scare; to frighten away.
  • * Shakespeare
    • That voice doth us affray .