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   contretemps

   /ˈkɒntrətɒ̃/

   noun

   • 1. a minor dispute or disagreement: "she had occasional contretemps with her staff" Similar argumentquarrelsquabblealtercationclashfightdisagreementdifference of opiniondisputedissensioninformal:tiffset-torun-inspatrowbarneyaftersrammy
   • ▪ an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence: "the hotel had to deal with more than one contretemps before the end of the night" Similar mishapmisadventureaccidentmischanceunfortunate occurrenceawkward momentproblemdifficulty

   Word Origin late 17th century (originally as a fencing term, denoting a thrust made at an inopportune moment): French, originally ‘motion out of time’, from contre- ‘against’ + temps ‘time’.

   Scrabble Points: 17

   • C

     3

   • O

     1

   • N

     1

   • T

     1

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • M

     3

   • P

     3

   • S

     1

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