affaire
UK[əˈfeə(r)]US[əˈfer]
n
A love affair, especially a secret or illicit one.
n
A matter or event of a particular kind, especially one involving intrigue or scandal.
Etymology
The English word 'affaire' is a direct borrowing from the French word 'affaire', meaning 'matter', 'business', or 'concern'. The French term itself evolved from the Old French phrase 'a faire', which translates literally as 'to do'. This phrase ultimately derives from the Latin verb 'facere', meaning 'to do' or 'to make'. In English, 'affaire' retains a distinctly French flavor, typically referring to a delicate, often romantic or scandalous matter, thus narrowing and specializing the broader sense of 'business' found in its French origin.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from French. It is not productively segmented using English morphemes.
Examples
The politician's resignation was prompted by a clandestine affaire with a staffer.
The whole messy affaire was splashed across the front pages of the tabloids.
She viewed the entire incident as a private affaire and refused to comment.