WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Af*fair"
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. afere, affere, OF. afaire, F. affaire, fr. a faire to do; L.. ad + facere to do. See Fact, and cf. Ado.]
Definition : 1. That which is done or is to be done; matter; concern; as, a difficult affair to manage; business of any kind, commercial, professional, or public; -- often in the plural. "At the head of affairs." Junius. "A talent for affairs." Prescott.

2. Any proceeding or action which it is wished to refer to or characterize vaguely; as, an affair of honor, i. e., a duel; an affair of love, i. e., an intrigue.

3. (Mil.)

Defn: An action or engagement not of sufficient magnitude to be called a battle.

4. Action; endeavor. [Obs.] And with his best affair Obeyed the pleasure of the Sun. Chapman.

5. A material object (vaguely designated). A certain affair of fine red cloth much worn and faded. Hawthorne.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913