Is there a word for this?

pergradus

I'm wondering if there is a word for this kind of situation (and I'm not saying I'm in this situation personally)...

If two people are in love, but they must keep it a secret because one of them is not supposed to be with the other, what do you call that? It's a one sided affair - it's only an issue for one person, but still it must be kept secret.


Surely the french have a word for this. Anyone know?

khemist

It depends on why the other person should not be in the relationship. One word I can think of is an affair...

math4math

If the person need not to be there is married, then this is simply cheating. So, depend on the circumstances.

pergradus

No neither are married or in a relationship with another person...

Evo

You mean as in Romeo and Juliet? A problem with familiy, religion, social status, etc...?

256bits

Sounds like something out of a Harlequin Romance novel.

Or, Robin Hood and Marian?
Lancelot and Guinevere?

Maybe "courtly love" fits the bill.

Or "erotomania", if you are kind of nutty.

pergradus

Yea pretty much, though it's really only a problem for one person, but I guess that doesn't really matter. I'm just trying to figure out what to call it.

wisvuze

it's called Hemingway's "a sun also rises"!

I like Serena

Calling it a one-sided affair or one-sided relationship seems to cover it. :)

fuzzyfelt

Star-crossed?
In 'Romeo and Juliet' Shakespeare uses this term, meaning their love is affected by external forces, an astrologically malign star, more perhaps, destined to tragedy. This might apply as much to one as to both being afflicted to the same end. This has also, for example, described an Arabic story, 'Layla and Majnun', where in a common version, the problem lies only with Majnun's circumstances.

Dembadon

Are you really looking for a single, French word to describe the predicament? If it doesn't have to be French, will you accept a phrase, or do you literally mean a word?

zoobyshoe

L'Amour Interdit: Forbidden Love.

Evo

Ooh, I like it.

Dembadon

Nice work!

pergradus

Hmm that's pretty close, how do you pronounce it?

lisab

Something like,

LA-moor AHN-tair-dee

fuzzyfelt

Nice. I see I missed some of the requirements