contretemps

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The Word of the Day for January 8 is:

contretemps   \KAHN-truh-tahng (the "ng" is not actually pronounced, but the 
preceding vowel is pronounced nasally)\   noun
    *1 : an inopportune or embarrassing occurrence or situation 
     2 : dispute, argument

Example sentence: 
     Jacqueline found herself in the middle of an embarrassing contretemps when 
her client suddenly changed his story and, ignoring her advice, spoke to 
reporters.

Did you know? 
     In the 1600s, "contretemps," which we borrowed from the French, referred 
to a thrust or pass made at the wrong time or at an inopportune moment in 
fencing. In the 1700s, dancers began using the word for steps danced on 
unaccented beats. Both of those meanings are in keeping with the French roots 
"contre-" (meaning "counter") and "temps" (meaning "time"), which underlie the 
modern English term. "Contretemps" was being used in English to refer to any 
embarrassing or unexpected mishap -- something out of step or rhythm with 
social conventions -- as long ago as 1769. The "dispute" or "argument" sense 
came about in the mid-20th century.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.