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#96908
02/25/2003 2:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
If you are verbally ugsome, you have committed an"
contretemps [n. KON-tru-tan] Accident, misadventure, mischance, mishap, and hitch are all near
synonyms of contretemps. A contretemps is an unexpected mishap or unforeseen event that
disrupts the normal course of things. This French word can also mean an argument, dispute, or
disagreement. Example: "Jim and Rob had a little contretemps at the game last night and still are not speaking."
Contretemps is a French word made up of contre (against) and temps (time) which is
derived from the Latin tempus. This noun has been describing embarrassing accidents and
awkward clashes since the late 1600s. This word also has a specific meaning in dance terminology.
It is a step danced on the unaccented portion of the beat, particularly in ballet.
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#96909
02/25/2003 3:14 PM
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
Contretemps is a French word made up of contre (against) and temps (time)
bit like syncopation, what?
and not a bit ugsome to my ears...
formerly known as etaoin...
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#96910
02/25/2003 4:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
No, etaoin. More like time I was eating in lab cafeteria with a couple prim ladies
and a brilliant and cultured bacteriologist, who had spent many months in
Astralia during WWII. He said:"Hey Bill, pass me the horsecock" meaning
the sausage. That was a contretemps.
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#96911
02/26/2003 12:51 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
And a faux pas. And a gaffe.
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#96912
02/26/2003 1:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Faux pas and gaffes are more easily forgiven than contretemps.
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#96913
02/26/2003 1:25 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Depends upon how pas the faux is, wouldn't you say, wwh?
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#96914
02/26/2003 1:30 AM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,089 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,089 Likes: 2 |
Does Ugolino, from Dante's Divine Comedy, share in this root? It's a proper name to be sure, but it did come from somewhere.
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#96915
02/26/2003 1:35 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Sounds as though "Ugolino" is "little Ugo" and only a little be ugsome.
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