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been united or concentrated); -- esp. said of authority, or the administration of public affairs.

The patron of a church; an officer having charge of the temporal affairs of a church.

w of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair. Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur. Hayward.

mbarrassment; to disorder; to disarrange; as, to derange the plans of a commander, or the affairs of a nation.

ontrol of the mental powers; quickness and skill in managing any complicated or difficult affair; adroitness. His wisdom . . . was turned . . . into a dexterity to deliver himself. Bacon. He had conducted his own defense with singular boldness and dexterity. Hallam.

Embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; -- usually in the plural; as, to be in difficulties. In days of difficulty and pressure. Tennyson.

To plunge or engage thoroughly in any affair. He was . . . dipt in the rebellion of the Commons. Dryden.

r manner; to order in the way to a certain end; to regulate; to govern; as, to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of an army. I will direct their work in truth. Is. lxi. 8.

Straightforwardly; honestly. I have dealt most directly in thy affair. Shak.

which, directs; one who regulates, guides, or orders; a manager or superintendent. In all affairs thou sole director. Swift.

timation, inclining to dislike; disfavor; disrepute. Disesteem and contempt of the public affairs. Milton.

1509). He was partially disfranchised so as to be made incapable of taking part in public affairs. Thirlwall.

cares when they dismiss their flock. Cowper. Though he soon dismissed himself from state affairs. Dryden.

To make haste; to conclude an affair; to finish a matter of business. They have dispatched with Pompey. Shak.

ew place, condition, etc.; alienation, or parting; as, a disposal of property. A domestic affair of great importance, which is no less than the disposal of my sister Jenny for life. Tatler.

Confusion of affairs; tumult; disorder; as, political distractions. Never was known a night of such distraction. Dryden.

One of the larger districts into which a country is divided for administering military affairs.

rcourse with; to deal with. When preceded by what, the notion is usually implied that the affair does not concern the person denoted by the subject of have. "Philology has to do with language in its fullest sense." Earle. "What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah 2 Sam. xvi. 10.

In a domestic manner; privately; with reference to domestic affairs.

To come to an end; to cease; to pass out of mind; as, the affair dropped. Pope.