What does the title "The Way of the World" mean and how does the title foreshadow the action of the play?

"The way of the world" is a flippant expression meaning the way people behave. However, in the Restoration times, the expression "the way of the world" connoted adultery, which was a common behavior in society and especially in theatrical Restoration Comedies. Therefore, the title foreshadows the importance of adultery to the plot of the play and the light tone with which it will be dealt. The phrase itself is used three times in the play - once in Act III and twice in Act V. In these instances, the characters also refer to adultery, often when gossiping to one another, calling the audience's attention back to the title and the fact that these events and their widespread nature are the focus of the play.