This word does have many meanings and these meanings are interchangeable meaning that it could have opposite meanings for example here one was fearful of the meeting that is coming but it turned out to be a fruitful meeting and it was a strange meeting.

And there are many examples here. One can say that she had a strange encounter while she went to snow skiing for she met her future love. Perhaps here this word is full of contradictions. That has to do with the outcome of the encounter of different kinds. No matter what occurs this word does entail within it happy news.

DR.HASHIM S.H. BEHBEHANI