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.