Affair
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An affair is often a euphemism for a situation where two people are involved in an inappropriate romantic relationship. Other uses include describing meetings or other functions, or tasks that need to be completed. For example, one might say, "I have other affairs to attend to at the moment." It may also refer to a particular business or private activity, as in family affair or private affair. A notable "family affair" is the filmmaking business of Japan's Tsuburaya family.
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[edit] Sex and romance
One of the more negative connotations of the use of "affair" is as a euphemism for a situation where two people are involved in an illicit sexual, romantic and/or passionate attachment, usually for a limited duration. The euphemism is also applied to marital infidelity where one partner has an outside relationship: a liaison. It is sometimes accompanied by scandal.
When used in this context, "affair" usually implies sexual impropriety, but that is not necessarily the case. (For example, in the classic film An Affair to Remember, the love affair in question is generally considered acceptable from a moral standpoint.)
[edit] Political and business
In the most general sense, it can be professional, personal, or public business. An affair, in the political sense, typically refers to any kind of involvement in illicit business by any kind of public representatives, such as in the Watergate affair. Like the earlier definition this is not always the case — for example the British Government has a Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which is a perfectly legitimate (and usually honorable) position.
[edit] Office romance
An office romance, work romance, or affair is a romance that occurs between two people who work together in the same office, work location, or business. Office romances are generally believed to be unhelpful to the general welfare and effectiveness of businesses, and were thus discouraged and even prohibited by company policy.
However, office romances have always been difficult to prohibit. They occur when two people start to have mutual caring feelings for each other and their feelings develop into a deeper relationship. Sometimes such romances can lead to lasting relationships, but more frequently they end and cause varying degrees of distress in the effectiveness of the offices or companies where they work.
[edit] Uses
"Affair" may refer to:
- Tasks or activities that require action or effort; something accomplished or to accomplish; transactions:
- Affairs of state take precedence over all other tasks.
- I must get my affairs in order.
- An event, occurrence, or matter, sometimes causing controversy:
- The party was a stunning affair.
- Her promotion was a complicated affair.
- The strike was a well-organized affair.
- That investigation discovered a scandalous affair.
- An object:
- The old house was a dilapidated affair.
- A romantic liasion or intimate relationship, often illicit:
- Their affair was wonderfully romantic and led to their wedding.
- They were having an affair and both their spouses knew about the relationship.
[edit] Major Famous affairs
- Affair of the diamond necklace
- Cunningham-Agee Affair
- Dreyfus Affair
- Harden-Eulenburg Affair
- Hemings-Jefferson Affair
- Lavon Affair
- The Lewinsky Scandal (Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky)
- Lillehammer affair
- Stevenson-Lloyd George Affair
- Iran-Contra affair
- Makropulos Affair
- Profumo Affair
- Sokal Affair
- Spiegel Affair
[edit] Minor Famous affairs
[edit] References
- PrivateAffairs.com, created in 1996, is a website that hosts open and honest discussions regarding extramarital lifestyle
- David Miller, The Joys of Adultery — How to cheat and get away with it.
- William F. Mitchell, Jr., Adultery: Facing Its Reality. ISBN 1-58684-138-6
- Reena Sommer, Anatomy of an Affair.
- H. Cameron Barnes, Affair! How to Manage Every Aspect of Your Extramarital Relationship with Passion, Discretion and Dignity. ISBN 1-58112-777-4
- The manual of how to cheat on your wife. ISBN 0-9721995-0-0
- Jay D. Louise, How to Have an Affair and Never Get Caught! ISBN 0-9644789-0-0
- Julia Copus, In Defence of Adultery. ISBN 1-85224-607-3
- Elissa Gough, The Other Woman's Guide to and from Infidelity; The journal for Women in Affairs with Married Men. ISBN 1-891863-03-7
- Don-David, Infidelity: A Survival Guide. ISBN 1-57224-087-3
- Laurel Walum Richardson, The New Other Woman: Contemporary Single Women in Affairs With Married Men. ISBN 0-02-926891-5
