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Matter; affair.

commissioner of patents, the commissioner of the land office, the commissioner of Indian affairs, are subotdinates of the secretary of the interior. Bartlett. Commissioner of deeds, an officer having authority to take affidavits, depositions, acknowledgment of deeds, etc., for use in the State by which he is appointed…

That which relates or belongs to one; business; affair. The private concerns of fanilies. Addison.

That in which one is concerned or interested; concern; affair; interest. "Our everlasting concernments." I. Watts. To mix with thy concernments I desist. Milton.

One who, or that which, concurs; a joint or contributory cause. To all affairs of importance there are three necessary concurrents . . . time, industry, and faculties. Dr. H. More.

humanized the conduct of war. Paley. The conduct of the state, the administration of its affairs. Ld. Brougham.

One to whom secrets, especially those relating to affairs of love, are confided or intrusted; a confidential or bosom friend. You love me for no other end Than to become my confidant and friend; As such I keep no secret from your sight. Dryden.

-- To take into one's confidence, to admit to a knowledge of one's feelings, purposes, or affairs.

To associate (a person or thing, or one's self) with another person, thing, business, or affair. Connecting rod (Mach.), a rod or bar joined to, and connecting, two or more moving parts; esp. a rod connecting a crank wrist with a beam, crosshead, piston rod, or piston, as in a steam engine.

ing such organic law, and laying down fundamental rules and principles for the conduct of affairs. Our constitution had begun to exist in times when statesmen were not much accustomed to frame exact definitions. Macaulay.

An assembly of the clergy, by their representatives, to consult on ecclesiastical affairs.

A man who busies himself with affairs which properly belong to women. Addison.

e rest of the territory, for certain purposes in the administration of justice and public affairs; -- called also a shire. See Shire. Every county, every town, every family, was in agitation. Macaulay.

ince; one who has an appointment at court. You know I am no courtier, nor versed in state affairs. Bacon. This courtier got a frigate, and that a company. Macualay.

The point of time when it is to be decided whether any affair or course of action must go on, or be modified or terminate; the decisive moment; the turning point. This hour's the very crisis of your fate. Dryden. The very times of crisis for the fate of the country. Brougham.

ere is no one thing that crooks youth more than such unlawfull games. Ascham. What soever affairs pass such a man's hands, he crooketh them to his own ends. Bacon.

ary to a dog in running; hence, a dog not fit for sporting. Hope is a curtail dog in some affairs. Shak.

ale Her infinite variety. Shak. Custom of merchants, a system or code of customs by which affairs of commerce are regulated. -- General customs, those which extend over a state or kingdom. -- Particular customs, those which are limited to a city or district; as, the customs of London.

To act as an intermediary in business or any affairs; to manage; to make arrangements; -- followed by between or with. Sometimes he that deals between man and man, raiseth his own credit with both, by pretending greater interest than he hath in either. Bacon.

fying; as, a decent fortune; a decent person. A decent retreat in the mutability of human affairs. Burke. -- De"cent*ly, adv. -- De"cent*ness, n.