affair

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
affair/əˈfeə(r)/

▶noun

• 1 an event or sequence of events of a specified kind or that has previously been referred to.

• 2 a matter that is a particular person's concern or responsibility.

  ■ (affairs) matters of public interest and importance.

  ■ (affairs) business and financial dealings.

• 3 a love affair.

– origin ME: from OFr. afaire, from à faire ‘to do’; cf. ado.