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Encounter vs Suffer - What's the difference?

encounter | suffer |

In transitive terms the difference between encounter and suffer

is that encounter is to confront (someone or something) face to face while suffer is to endure, undergo.

As a noun encounter

is an unplanned or unexpected meeting.

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 débutante 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

    suffer

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To undergo hardship.
  • To feel pain.
  • To have a disease or condition.
  • To become worse.
  • To endure, undergo.
  • * Shakespeare
  • If your more ponderous and settled project / May suffer alteration.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-06, volume=408, issue=8843, page=68, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= The rise of smart beta , passage=Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.}}
  • (archaic) To allow.
  • * The U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 203:
  • "Employ" includes to suffer or permit to work.
  • * Section 31-36 of the Code of Montgomery County, Maryland:
  • *KJV, Matthew 19:14
  • *:But Jesus said, suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
  • Synonyms

    * (l)

    Derived terms

    * insufferable * sufferer * suffering * suffer fools gladly * suffer by comparison

    Anagrams

    * ----