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Is there a word for this?

  1. Aug 2, 2011 #1

    pergradus

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    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?
     
    pergradus, Aug 2, 2011
  2. jcsd
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  3. Aug 2, 2011 #2

    khemist

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    It depends on why the other person should not be in the relationship. One word I can think of is an affair...
     
    khemist, Aug 2, 2011
  4. Aug 2, 2011 #3

    math4math

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    If the person need not to be there is married, then this is simply cheating. So, depend on the circumstances.
     
    math4math, Aug 2, 2011
  5. Aug 2, 2011 #4

    pergradus

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    No neither are married or in a relationship with another person...
     
    pergradus, Aug 2, 2011
  6. Aug 2, 2011 #5

    Evo

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    You mean as in Romeo and Juliet? A problem with familiy, religion, social status, etc...?
     
    Evo, Aug 2, 2011
  7. Aug 2, 2011 #6

    256bits

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    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.
     
    256bits, Aug 2, 2011
  8. Aug 2, 2011 #7

    pergradus

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    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.
     
    pergradus, Aug 2, 2011
  9. Aug 2, 2011 #8

    wisvuze

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    it's called Hemingway's "a sun also rises"!
     
    wisvuze, Aug 2, 2011
  10. Aug 2, 2011 #9

    I like Serena

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    Calling it a one-sided affair or one-sided relationship seems to cover it. :)
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2011
    I like Serena, Aug 2, 2011
  11. Aug 2, 2011 #10

    fuzzyfelt

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    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.
     
    fuzzyfelt, Aug 2, 2011
  12. Aug 2, 2011 #11

    Dembadon

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    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?
     
    Dembadon, Aug 2, 2011
  13. Aug 3, 2011 #12

    zoobyshoe

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    L'Amour Interdit: Forbidden Love.
     
    zoobyshoe, Aug 3, 2011
  14. Aug 3, 2011 #13

    Evo

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    Ooh, I like it.
     
    Evo, Aug 3, 2011
  15. Aug 3, 2011 #14

    Dembadon

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    Nice work!
     
    Dembadon, Aug 3, 2011
  16. Aug 3, 2011 #15

    pergradus

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    Hmm that's pretty close, how do you pronounce it?
     
    pergradus, Aug 3, 2011
  17. Aug 3, 2011 #16

    lisab

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    Something like,

    LA-moor AHN-tair-dee
     
    lisab, Aug 3, 2011
  18. Aug 4, 2011 #17

    fuzzyfelt

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    Nice. I see I missed some of the requirements
     
    fuzzyfelt, Aug 4, 2011
  19. Aug 4, 2011 #18

    256bits

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    Not really. You mentioned "tradegy" in your previous post. The OP gives no references, so we can not be sure as to what manner he would be using the term. Tragic love would also be a desciption as the storyline could be described that way. Affair of the heart, affaire de coeur, courtly love, illicit affair.

    To me fordidden love has connotations of the fordidden fruit, the original sin, which leads to the tragedy that befals the human race, so we have gone full circle.
     
    256bits, Aug 4, 2011
  20. Aug 5, 2011 #19

    fuzzyfelt

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    Thanks 256bits, and really nice circular thoughts.
     
    fuzzyfelt, Aug 5, 2011
  21. Aug 7, 2011 #20

    QuantumCandy

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    Awww i OP i can think of one such situation where the issue was that one set of parents was deeply cultural/religious and forbid their son from marrying the love of his life; he hid it for a while, but eventually had to give in to the arranged marriage his parents chose for him.
    It happens a lot. Not sure what situation you're referring to but i love the aforementioned french word :-)
     
    QuantumCandy, Aug 7, 2011
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