Af*fair" (#), 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.
© Webster 1913.