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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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Carpal Tunnel
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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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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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And a faux pas. And a gaffe.
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Faux pas and gaffes are more easily forgiven than contretemps.
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Depends upon how pas the faux is, wouldn't you say, wwh?
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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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Sounds as though "Ugolino" is "little Ugo" and only a little be ugsome.
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