affair

Meaning

Noun

• Something which is done or is to be done; business of any kind, commercial, professional, or public.
• Any proceeding or action which it is wished to refer to or characterize vaguely.
• An action or engagement not of sufficient magnitude to be called a battle.
• A material object (vaguely designated).
• An adulterous relationship (from affaire de cœur).
• A romantic relationship with someone who is not one's regular partner (boyfriend, girlfriend).
• A person with whom someone has an adulterous relationship.
• A party or social gathering, especially of a formal nature.
• The (male or female) genitals.

Origin

• From Middle English afere, affere, from Old French afaire, from a- + faire, from Latin ad- + facere. See fact, and confer ado.