contretemps

[ kon-truh-tahn; French kawntruh-tahn ]

/ ˈkɒn trəˌtɑ̃; French kɔ̃trəˈtɑ̃ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR contretemps ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural con·tre·temps [kon-truh-tahnz; French kawntruh-tahn] /ˈkɒn trəˌtɑ̃z; French kɔ̃trəˈtɑ̃/.

an inopportune occurrence; an embarrassing mischance: He caused a minor contretemps by knocking over his drink.

Words nearby contretemps

contre-jour, contre-partie, contrecoup, contrecoup injury of brain, contredanse, contretemps, contrib., contribute, contribution, contributor, contributory

Origin of contretemps

1675–85; < French, equivalent to contre- counter- + temps time (< Latin tempus); perhaps alteration (by folk etymology) of Middle French contrestant, present participle of contrester to oppose; see contrast

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for contretemps

That seemed like it was the end of the matter but then new life was breathed into the contretemps on Monday.
A Cuomo-Christie Proxy War?|Ben Jacobs|December 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The contretemps escalated during a commercial break when Khrushchev was handed a note by one of his advisers.
Nikita Khrushchev, Talk Show Guest|Stephen Battaglio|November 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Carter reveals that Jay made weird, borderline mentorly calls to Kimmel long before the Conan contretemps began.
Secrets of the Late Night War|Bryan Curtis|November 8, 2010|DAILY BEAST
But the Web contretemps has had an impact all the same, particularly on the political right.
The GOP's Supreme Problem|Reihan Salam|May 27, 2009|DAILY BEAST

But in the meanwhile a contretemps had occurred which threw out and seriously hampered the whole British line of battle.
The Great Boer War|Arthur Conan Doyle
A sweet reasonableness was undoubtedly the note to strike when such a contretemps occurred.
Observations of an Orderly|Ward Muir
I can only express my regret that my presence here should have occasioned such a contretemps.
The Hermit of Far End|Margaret Pedler
I had a full report from the Engadine a fortnight ago, and this contretemps is only what I have expected.
The Secrets of Potsdam|William Le Queux
How Evans and his lot would make merry over this contretemps!
Tom, Dick and Harry|Talbot Baines Reed

British Dictionary definitions for contretemps

contretemps

/ (ˈkɒntrəˌtɑːn, French kɔ̃trətɑ̃) /

noun plural -temps

an awkward or difficult situation or mishap

fencing a feint made with the purpose of producing a counterthrust from one's opponent

a small disagreement that is rather embarrassing

Word Origin for contretemps

C17: from French, from contre against + temps time, from Latin tempus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

contretemps

noun, plural con·tre·temps [kon-truh-tahnz; French kawntruh-tahn] /ˈkɒn trəˌtɑ̃z; French kɔ̃trəˈtɑ̃/.

Words related to contretemps

Words nearby contretemps

Origin of contretemps

Examples from the Web for contretemps

British Dictionary definitions for contretemps

noun plural -temps

Word Origin for contretemps