affaire
Definition
Noun: 1. A usually secretive or illicit sexual relationship: A romantic or sexual liaison, typically one that is kept hidden because it is considered improper, scandalous, or extramarital.
Usage
The word "affaire" is a direct borrowing from French, often used in English to convey a sense of sophistication, secrecy, or scandal associated with the relationship. It is synonymous with the more common English term "affair" in this specific context. It is typically used in formal, literary, or journalistic contexts.
Examples
- Noun:
- The politician's career was ruined by the revelation of his affaire with a staffer.
- The novel details the passionate but doomed affaire between the diplomat and the artist.
- Gossip columns were full of whispers about the star's latest affaire.
Advanced Usage
- "Affaire de coeur": A French phrase sometimes used in English meaning "an affair of the heart" or a love affair.
- Their partnership was strictly professional, not an affaire de coeur.
Variants and Related Words
- Affair (n.): The standard English equivalent with the same meaning.
- Liaison (n.): A synonym for a secret or illicit romantic relationship.
- Rendezvous (n.): A meeting, often secret, between people involved in a romantic relationship.
Synonyms
- Liaison
- Amour (often implies a passionate love affair)
- Intrigue (archaic in this sense)
- Fling (implies a brief, casual affair)
Related Idioms
- To have an affair: The standard English phrase for being involved in a secret romantic relationship.
- It was discovered that he had been having an affair for years.
Noun
-
a usually secretive or illicit sexual relationship
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