עֵסֶק II, (עָסַק) business, worldly occupation; affair, concern. Ḥag. 13ᵃ, a. e. אין לך ע׳ וכ׳ thou hast no concern with, v. סָתַר I. Ab. IV, 10, v. מָעַט. M. Kat. 22ᵃ bot. רצה ממעט בעִסְקוֹ if he desires, he may do less business (as a sign of mourning). Treat. S’maḥ. ch. IX ואינו מרבה בעסקו and he need not make elaborate preparations for his funeral; a. fr.—Trnsf. affair, display. Men. X, 3 (65ᵃ) כדי שיהא נקצר בע׳ גדול that the cutting of the ‘Omer may take place with great display (in the presence of many people); Koh. R. to I, 3.—Pl. עֲסָקִים, עֲסָקִין, constr. עִסְקֵי, עִי׳. Yoma 75ᵃ; Sabb. 130ᵃ (ref. to Num. XI, 10) על ע׳ משפחותיו (the people wept) over their family affairs (the prohibition of consanguineous marriages); Yalk. Num. 735. Sifra K’dosh., ch. VIII, Par. 4 (ref. to פני, Lev. XX, 5) פונה אני מכל עֲסָקַי וכ׳ I shall leave all my affairs, and busy myself &c., v. עָסַק; ib. Aḥăré, ch. X, Par. 8; Yalk. Lev. 619; a. fr.—2) controversy, dispute, cause. B. Mets. 97ᵇ כגון שיש ע׳ שבועה ביניהן when there is a dispute between them in which an oath is involved (i.e. when the oath that would have been required, cannot be administered).—Pl. as ab. Shebu. 31ᵃ שדה שיש עליה ע׳ Ar. (ed. עסיקין) a field the title of which is disputed. Keth. 92ᵇ sq. יצאו עליו ע׳ (ed. עסי׳) protests against the title were issued; B. Mets. 14ᵃ bot. עסי׳.