Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

carry a torch

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.71 in modern English

Syllables
car-ry a -torch
IPA
21
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To love or to be romantically infatuated with, especially when such feelings are not reciprocated.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From the metaphor of a burning flame, to keep a fire burning. The association of a torch with love may date to the Greek and Roman tradition of a wedding torch, lit in the bride’s hearth on her wedding night, then used to light the hearth in her new home. Such a torch is associated with the Greek god of marriage Hymenaios.

Inflected Forms

carries a torch (present, singular) carrying a torch (participle, present) carried a torch (participle, past) carried a torch (past) carry the torch (alternative)

Phrases

torch song old flame

Frequently Paired Words

torch song old flame

Questions

What does carry a torch mean?
To love or to be romantically infatuated with, especially when such feelings are not reciprocated.
Where does carry a torch come from?
From the metaphor of a burning flame, to keep a fire burning. The association of a torch with love may date to the Greek and Roman tradition of a wedding torch, lit in the bride’s hearth on her wedding night, then used to light the hearth in her new home. Such a torch is associated with the Greek god of marriage Hymenaios.

How to pronounce carry a torch

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