Hendiadys

Hendiadys

Hendiadys (a Latinized form of the Greek phrase ἓν διὰ δυοῖν "hen dia duoin" 'one through two') is a figure of speech used for emphasis — "The substitution of a conjunction for a subordination". The basic idea is to use two words linked by a conjunction to express a single complex idea.

The typical result is to transform a noun-plus-adjective into two nouns joined by a conjunction.

For example, "sound and fury" (from Act V, Scene V of "Macbeth") seems to offer a more striking image than "furious sound". In this example, as typically, the subordinate idea originally present in the adjective is transformed into a noun in and of itself.

Hendiadys is most effective in English when the adjective and noun form of the word are identical. Thus "the cold wind went down the hall" becomes "the cold and the wind went down the hall."

"The kingdom and the power and the glory" (from the Lord's Prayer) extends the principle, transforming the idea of a "glorious, powerful kingdom" into a sequence of three nouns joined by conjunctions.

When hendiadys fails in its effects, it can sound merely redundant. For example, "cum amicitia atque pace," “with friendship and peace” is often translated instead as “with peaceful friendship.”

English names for hendiadys include two for one and figure of twinnes.

Hendiadys is often used in Latin poetry; many examples occur in Virgil's Aeneid.

ee also

*Hendiatris, "one through three"

References

*

* George T. Wright, "Hendiadys and Hamlet." PMLA 96:2 (1981) 168-93.


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  • hendiadys — [ ɛ̃djadis ] n. m. • 1902; du gr. hen dia duoin « une chose au moyen de deux mots » ♦ Didact. Figure de rhétorique qui consiste à dissocier en deux noms coordonnés une expression unique (nom et adjectif ou nom et complément). Ex. « Un temple… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Hendiadys — Hen*di a*dys, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? ? ? one by two.] (Gram.) A figure in which the idea is expressed by two nouns connected by and, instead of by a noun and limiting adjective; as, we drink from cups and gold, for golden cups. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hendiădys — (griech., eigentlich Hendiadyoin, d.h. [238] Eins durch zwei), syntaktische Figur, nach welcher statt eines Adjectivs ein, mit dem andern Substantivum durch und verbundenes Substantivum gesetzt wird, z.B. wir opfern auf Gold und auf Schalen,… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Hendiadys — (griech., Hendiadyoin, »eins durch zwei«), syntaktische Figur, die darin besteht, daß ein zu einem Gegenstandsbegriff hinzugefügtes Attribut nicht durch ein Adjektiv oder ein Substantiv im Genitiv, sondern durch ein selbständiges Substantivum… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Hendiadys — Hendiadȳs, Hendiadȳoin (grch.), d.h. eins durch zwei, Redefigur, nach der zwei Substantiva einander beigeordnet werden, von denen das eine statt des Adjektivs steht (z.B. Eisen und Waffen statt: eiserne Waffen) …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Hendiadys — Hendiadys, griech., grammat. Figur, indem statt eines Adjectivs ein Substantiv in der Beiordnung gesetzt wird; bekannt Virgils »pateris libamus et auro«, wir opfern auf Schalen u. Gold, d.h. goldenen Schalen …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • hendiadys — 1580s, figure of speech in which two nouns joined by and are used in place of a noun and an adjective; from M.L. alteration of Gk. hen dia duoin one (thing) by means of two. If this term was used by Greek grammarians it is no longer found in… …   Etymology dictionary

  • hendiadys — pronounced hen diy ǝ dis, is derived from a Greek phrase meaning ‘one by means of two’. It is a figure of speech in which a single complex idea is expressed by two words connected by a conjunction (usually and), for example nice and easy, good… …   Modern English usage

  • hendiadys — [hen dī′ə dis] n. [ML < Gr phrase hen dia dyoin, one (thing) by means of two] a figure of speech in which two nouns joined by and are used instead of a noun and a modifier (Ex.: deceit and words for deceitful words) …   English World dictionary

  • Hendiadys — séparés mais associés L’hendiadys ou hendiadyn (n.m., du grec ἓν διὰ δυοῖν / hèn dià duoîn, « un en deux ») est une figure de rhétorique qui consiste à remplacer la subordination ou la détermination qui solidarise deux mots, par une… …   Wikipédia en Français

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