A usually secretive or illicit sexual relationship

Usage examples of affaire.

Retirez-vous, messieurs, dit le roi aux autres personnes de sa suite, cette affaire ne concerne que mon oreille.

To whom it was declared that the most valiant was murdred and slaine in divers manners, whereupon he perswaded them to remit all their affaires a certaine season, and to seeke for other fellowes to be in their places, that by the exercise of new lads, the terror of their martiall band might be reduced to the old number, assuring them that such as were unwilling, might be compelled by menaces and threatnings, and such as were willing might be incouraged forward with reward.

La repartition plus egale des biens et des droits dans ce monde est le plus grand objet que doivent se proposer ceux qui menent les affaires humaines.

Le mousquet au bras, je revais, contre le perron, a mes affaires et a mes plaisirs.

Mais vous avez raison, il y a temps pour le plaisir et temps pour les affaires serieuses .

Il avait pris le bras de sa fille: --Et ca ne peut se dire que devant ta mere, votre affaire?

As I fortuned to take my voyage into Thessaly, about certaine affaires which I had to doe ( for there myne auncestry by my mothers side inhabiteth, descended of the line of that most excellent person Plutarch, and of Sextus the Philosopher his Nephew, which is to us a great honour) and after that by much travell and great paine I had passed over the high mountaines and slipperie vallies, and had ridden through the cloggy fallowed fields.

On decerne la palme du genie a l'artiste grec qui a su resoudre le plus delicat des problemes, orner le corps humain, c'est a orner la perfection meme, et l'on ne veut voir qu'une affaire de chiffons dans l'essai de collaborer a la plus belle oeuvre de Dieu, a la beaute de la femme!

A plain husband-man is more Prudent in affaires of his own house, then a Privy Counseller in the affaires of another man.

I lately chaunst (Would I had neuer chaunst)With a faire knight to keepen companee,Sir Terwin hight, that well himselfe aduaunstIn all affaires, and was both bold and free,But not so happie as mote happie bee:He lou'd, as was his lot, a Ladie gent,That him againe lou'd in the least degree:For she was proud, and of too high intent,And ioyd to see her louer languish and lament.

So long these knights discoursed diuersly,Of straunge affaires, and noble hardiment,Which they had past with mickle ieopardy,That now the humid night was farforth spent,And heauenly lampes were halfendeale ybrent:Which th'old man seeing well, who too long thoughtEuery discourse and euery argument,Which by the houres he measured, besoughtThem go to rest.

THe rugged forhead that with graue foresightWelds kingdomes causes, & affaires of state,My looser rimes (I wote) doth sharply wite,For praising loue, as I haue done of late,And magnifying louers deare debate.

Now at that instant, as occasion fell,When these two stranger knights arriu'd in place,She was about affaires of common wele,Dealing of Iustice with indifferent grace,And hearing pleas of people meane and base.

Therefore the Prince, whom great affaires in myndWould not permit, to make their lenger stay,Was forced there to leaue them both behynd,In that good Hermits charge, whom he did prayTo tend them well.

Incontinently she went unto the royall Pallace of God Jupiter, and with a proud and bold petition demanded the service of Mercury, in certaine of her affaires, whereunto Jupiter consented: then with much joy shee descended from Heaven with Mercury, and gave him an earnest charge to put in execution her words, saying : O my Brother, borne in Arcadia, thou knowest well, that I (who am thy sister) did never enterprise to doe any thing without thy presence, thou knowest also how long I have sought for a girle and cannot finde her, wherefore there resteth nothing else save that thou with thy trumpet doe pronounce the reward to such as take her: see thou put in execution my commandment, and declare that whatsoever he be that retaineth her wittingly, against my will shall not defend himselfe by any meane or excusation: which when she had spoken, she delivered unto him a libell, wherein was contained the name of Psyches, and the residue of his publication, which done, she departed away to her lodging.