business
Preserved but no longer current.
Also seen as: bihness
Meaning · English
The action which accompanies dialogue. "His BUSINESS was good." Generally applied to byplay.—Theatrical.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “business” mean?
The action which accompanies dialogue. "His BUSINESS was good." Generally applied to byplay.—Theatrical.
Is “business” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.