contretemps
Use Contretemps in a sentence
trəˌtɑ̃;
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To contretemps
Collins
World English Dictionary
contretemps (ˈkɒntrəˌtɑːn, French kɔ̃trətɑ̃) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n , pl -temps | |
| 1. | an awkward or difficult situation or mishap |
| 2. | fencing a feint made with the purpose of producing a counterthrust from one's opponent |
| 3. | a small disagreement that is rather embarrassing |
| [C17: from French, from contre against + temps time, from Latin tempus] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Contretemps
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
contretemps
1684, "a blunder in fencing," from Fr. contre-temps "motion out of time, unfortunate accident, bad times." As a ballet term, from 1706; as "an unfortunate accident," 1802; as "a dispute," from 1961.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
Over the years large hunks of its blowzy decoration have been removed, leaving it more curiosity than contretemps.
That's what this contretemps is about, and that's the problem that needs to be addressed.
That's a lesson that should have emerged clearly from this contretemps.
One of her lingering challenges will be the contretemps over the birds.
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