affair

== English == === Alternative forms === affaire (obsolete) === Etymology === From Middle English afere, affere, from Old French afaire, from a- + faire (“to do”), from Latin ad- + facere (“to do”). See fact, and compare ado. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əˈfɛə/ (General American) IPA(key): /əˈfɛɹ/, /əˈfɛɚ/ (General Australian) IPA(key): /əˈfeː/ (New Zealand, without the cheer–chair merger) IPA(key): /əˈfe̝ə/ (New Zealand, cheer–chair merger) IPA(key): /əˈfiə/ (Scotland) IPA(key): /əˈfeɹ/ (Lancashire, fair–fur merger) IPA(key): /əˈfɜː(ɹ)/ Rhymes: -ɛə(ɹ) Hyphenation: af‧fair === Noun === affair (plural affairs) (often in the plural) Something which is done or is to be done; business of any kind, commercial, professional, or public. Synonyms: matter, concern Any proceeding or action which it is wished to refer to or characterize vaguely. Synonyms: goings-on, happening; see also Thesaurus:occurrence an affair of honor ― a duel an affair of love ― an intrigue The house was a ramshackle affair. (military) An action or engagement not of sufficient magnitude to be called a battle. A material object (vaguely designated). An adulterous relationship, chiefly of a married person. (from affaire de cœur, affair of the heart). An otherwise illicit romantic relationship, such as 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. (slang, now rare) The (male or female) genitals. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== liaison === References === “affair”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. === Anagrams === raffia == Spanish == === Etymology === Unadapted borrowing from English affair, from French affaire. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /aˈfeɾ/ [aˈfeɾ] Rhymes: -eɾ === Noun === affair m (plural affaires) affair (extramarital relationship) Synonym: aventura ==== Usage notes ==== According to Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) prescriptions, unadapted foreign words should be written in italics in a text printed in roman type, and vice versa, and in quotation marks in a manuscript text or when italics are not available. In practice, this RAE prescription is not always followed.