Old English bisignes (Northumbrian) "care, anxiety, occupation," from bisig "careful, anxious, busy, occupied, diligent" (see busy (adj.)) + -ness. Middle English sense of "state of being much occupied or engaged" (mid-14c.) is obsolete, replaced by busyness.
Sense of "a person's work, occupation" is first recorded late 14c. (in late Old English bisig (adj.) appears as a noun with the sense "occupation, state of employment"). Meaning "what one is about at the moment" is from 1590s. Sense of "trade, commercial engagements" is first attested 1727. In 17c. it also could mean "sexual intercourse." Modern two-syllable pronunciation is 17c.
Business card first attested 1840; business letter from 1766. Business end "the practical or effective part" (of something) is American English, by 1874. Phrase business as usual attested from 1865. To mean business "be intent on serious action" is from 1856. To mind (one's) own business is from 1620s. Johnson's dictionary also has busiless "At leisure; without business; unemployed."
双语例句
1. Very likely he'd told them he had American business interests.
很可能他已经告诉他们自己拥有美国商业利益.
来自柯林斯例句
2. He mixed business and pleasure in a perfect and dynamic way.
他以互动的方式将工作和娱乐完美地结合起来。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The Jamaica Festival is planning a series of workshops and business seminars.
牙买加节正在筹划一系列研习班和商务研讨会。
来自柯林斯例句
4. He returned from a lunchtime drinking session with his business cronies.
中午跟那帮生意上的朋友喝完酒后，他回来了。
来自柯林斯例句
5. They had alienated the one man who knew the business.
