A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1563-1581, 1635-1671
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Affair, Affare, n. Also: affayr, affeaire, auffaire. See further Effair n. [Late ME. affayre (Caxton), e.m.E. affaire, OF. afaire. A later form of Affere n.] An affair; a matter of business or concern.1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 44 (the affairis of the estait). a1578 Pitsc. I. 22/3 (affaires concerneing the common weill). 1581 Treasurer's Accounts MS. 502 b (certane auffairis of his pastyme). 1635 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 106 (to sie affares to goo in this sort). 1671 Wemyss Corr. 134 (to meaddule with that affeaire).
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"Affair n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/affair>
