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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.

f an inferior grade, accredited by the government of one state to the minister of foreign affairs of another; also, a substitute, ad interim, for an ambassador or minister plenipotentiary.

One's own affairs; one's private business. [Obs.] Shak.

To perform; to execute; to do. [Archaic] That we act our temporal affairs with a desire no greater than our necessity. Jer. Taylor. Industry doth beget by producing good habits, and facility of acting things expedient for us to do. Barrow. Uplifted hands that at convenient times Could act extortion and the worst of cri…

One who acts, or takes part in any affair; a doer.

To manage or conduct, as public affairs; to direct or superintend the execution, application, or conduct of; as, to administer the government or the state. For forms of government let fools contest: Whate'er is best administered is best. Pope.

Executive; acting; managing affairs. -- n.

The act of administering; government of public affairs; the service rendered, or duties assumed, in conducting affairs; the conducting of any office or employment; direction; management. His financial administration was of a piece with his military administration. Macaulay.

One who administers affairs; one who directs, manages, executes, or dispenses, whether in civil, judicial, political, or ecclesiastical affairs; a manager.

The department or officers having authority over naval affairs generally.

Unfixed; moving without guide or control; adrift; as, our affairs are all afloat.

An unexpected subsequent event; something disagreeable happening after an affair is supposed to be at an end. Spenser.

ameliorated; making or becoming better; improvement; melioration. "Amelioration of human affairs." J. S. Mill.

A petty love affair or amour. [Obs.]

Love making; a love affair; usually, an unlawful connection in love; a love intrigue; an illicit love affair. In amours with, in love with. [Obs.]

nd deep amusement, revolving in my mind, with great perplexity, the amazing change of our affairs. Fleetwood.

ent whole the various anomalies and contending principles that are found in the minds and affairs of men. Burke. As Professor Owen has remarked, there is no greater anomaly in nature than a bird that can not fly. Darwin.

Appearance to the eye or the mind; look; view. "The aspect of affairs." Macaulay. The true aspect of a world lying in its rubbish. T. Burnet.

ith astronomy; subsequently, the art of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling events by their position and aspects.

e; origin; origination; as, the authorship of a book or review, or of an act, or state of affairs.