/kon"treuh tahonn'/ ; Fr. /kawonntrddeu tahonn"/ , n. , pl. contretemps /-tahonnz'/ ; Fr. /-tahonn"/ .
an inopportune occurrence; an embarrassing mischance: He caused a minor contretemps by knocking over his drink.
[ 1675-85; contre- COUNTER- + temps time ( tempus ); perh. alter. (by folk etym.) of MF contrestant, prp. of contrester to oppose; see CONTRAST ]