/ ˈkɒntrətɒ͂; NAmE ˈkɑːntrətɑ͂ː/ noun
( pl. con·tre·temps ) (from French , formal or humorous ) an unfortunate event or embarrassing disagreement with another person
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WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent. (originally as a fencing term, denoting a thrust made at an inopportune moment): French , originally motion out of time , from contre- against + temps time.