contretemps Definition
contre·temps (kän′trə tän′, kōn′-; Fr kōn trə tän′)
noun pl. -·temps′-tän′, -tänz′; Fr., -tän′
an inopportune happening causing confusion or embarrassment; awkward mishap
Etymology: Fr, altered (infl. by contre, opposite & temps, time) < OFr contrestant, prp. of contrester < VL *contrastare, contrast
contretemps Synonyms
contretemps
n.
contretemps Usage Examples
Converse of object
have: He waltzed out of the dance class yesterday, and had a bad contretemps with Kevin the instructor.
Adjective modifier
Browse dictionary entries near contretemps
- ‹ contredanse
- ‹ contrecoup
- ‹ contravention
- ‹ contravene
- ‹ contravallation
- ‹ contrasty
- ‹ contrasting
- ‹ contrast
- ‹ contrary
- ‹ contrariwise

