affaire
Romantic entanglement abroad
Affaire is a French borrowing meaning an affair or matter, used in English primarily in the phrase *affaire de coeur*—a love affair or romantic entanglement.
The French spelling lends a touch of sophistication or irony: Their little affaire scandalized the neighborhood.
Outside this context, the anglicized *affair* is standard.
Connector between groups
- amourRomantic liaison, often illicit
- trystSecret romantic meeting
- infidelityDisloyalty to a partner
- loverRomantic intimate
mistress · paramour · rendezvous · passion · clandestine · adultery · secret · illicit
Exchange of goods/money
- dealAgreement or distribution
- enterpriseCommercial undertaking or initiative
- ventureRisky new undertaking
- matterSpace-occupying substance with mass
negotiation · commerce · contract · partnership · arrangement · undertaking · commercial · trade
Troubled interest in something
- issuePoint of contention
- businessCommercial activity or occupation
- situationState of affairs
- circumstanceCondition affecting an event
question · subject · problem · case · topic · consideration · regard · point
liaison
Connector between groups
- amourRomantic liaison, often illicit
- trystSecret romantic meeting
- infidelityDisloyalty to a partner
lover · mistress · paramour · rendezvous · passion · clandestine · adultery · secret · illicit · dalliance
transaction
Exchange of goods/money
- dealAgreement or distribution
- enterpriseCommercial undertaking or initiative
- ventureRisky new undertaking
matter · negotiation · commerce · contract · partnership · arrangement · undertaking · commercial · trade · dealings
concern
Troubled interest in something
circumstance · question · subject · problem · case · topic · consideration · regard · point · aspect
controversy
Prolonged public disagreement
sensation · notoriety · disgrace · exposé · corruption · cover-up · revelation · political · public · media
affairemarriage
Formal union between partners
matrimony · wedlock · committed relationship · true love · domestic partnership
- love affairRomantic relationship, often intense
- having an affairExtramarital romantic involvement
- have an affairEngage in marital infidelity
- internal affairsOfficers investigating officers
- state of affairsCurrent overall situation
- had an affairWas sexually unfaithful
affair, affairs, love affair, public affairs, extramarital affair