metencountered

Metencountered is a coinage used in some discussions of narrative theory, philosophy of perception, and certain areas of game studies. It describes a type of encounter that is experienced with meta-awareness—the observer or reader recognizes that the encounter is being experienced as an encounter, rather than simply felt in the moment.

Etymology: the term combines meta- (beyond, self-referential) with encountered (the past participle of encounter). This construction signals an encounter that includes reflection on the act of encountering.

Definition and usage: A metencountered moment is one in which the consciousness engages in reflexive evaluation of the encounter as it unfolds. Examples include a character who notices their own gaze influencing another character, or a narrator who comments on the act of engagement as it happens, thereby layering interpretation atop sensation.

In theory, metencountered events can serve to foreground interpretive processes or to challenge the illusion of immediacy in storytelling. They are distinct from metacognition, which concerns thinking about one’s own cognitive processes, though the two can overlap when the focus is on awareness of engagement rather than internal thought processes.

Related concepts include metafiction, metanarrative, reflexivity, and self-reference. Critics may treat metencountered episodes as a deliberate formal device to destabilize immersion or to invite critical distance.

Because it is a niche term, metencountered is not widely standardized, and its precise meaning can vary by discipline and author. It is most commonly found in analytical discussions of narrative technique rather than in general usage.