Af*fair" (ăf*fâr"), n. [OE. afere, affere, OF. afaire, F. affaire,
fr. a faire to do; L.. ad +
facere to do. See Fact, and cf. Ado.]
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.) 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.
Hear it pronounced