hendiadys: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Academic, Literary, Technical (Linguistics/Rhetoric)
Quick answer
What does “hendiadys” mean?
A figure of speech where two words connected by "and" express a single complex idea, where one word would logically be subordinate to the other.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A figure of speech where two words connected by "and" express a single complex idea, where one word would logically be subordinate to the other.
In rhetoric and grammar, a stylistic device used for emphasis, amplification, or poetic effect, often found in literary texts, legal language, and historical documents.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or application. The term is used identically in academic and literary circles in both regions.
Connotations
Highly scholarly; implies analysis of language, style, or literature.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general usage in both varieties, confined to specialist texts.
Grammar
How to Use “hendiadys” in a Sentence
[Verb] + hendiadys (e.g., 'analyse a hendiadys')[Adjective] + hendiadys (e.g., 'a clear hendiadys')hendiadys + [Prepositional Phrase] (e.g., 'hendiadys in the text')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hendiadys” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The critic hendiadysed the phrase 'law and order' in his analysis.
- He tends to hendiadys when seeking emphasis.
American English
- The professor hendiadysed the line from the poem.
- Writers sometimes hendiadys for a rhythmic effect.
adjective
British English
- The hendiadys construction was particularly effective.
- This is a hendiadys usage common in legal texts.
American English
- She pointed out the hendiadys phrase in the document.
- A hendiadys reading of the line changes its meaning.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in linguistics, classical studies, rhetoric, and literary analysis courses and papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would be used only in discussing language or literature in a detailed way.
Technical
Core term in rhetoric and certain branches of linguistic stylistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hendiadys”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hendiadys”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hendiadys”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈhɛn.di.æd.ɪs/ or /henˈdiː.ə.dɪs/.
- Confusing it with 'hendiatris' (the use of three words).
- Using it as a synonym for any conjunction or pair of words.
- Incorrectly capitalising it as a proper noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never. It is a technical term for discussing language and literature, not a word used in casual speech.
Shakespeare's "The thunder and the roar" (from Macbeth) is a celebrated literary example, where 'thunder and roar' expresses the single idea of a tumultuous, roaring thunder.
Not necessarily. While the two words in a hendiadys are often related, the key is their grammatical coordination ('and') to express what is logically a modifier-modified relationship (e.g., 'roaring thunder'). They are not mere synonyms.
It comes from the Greek phrase 'ἓν διὰ δυοῖν' (hen dia duoin), meaning 'one through two'.
A figure of speech where two words connected by "and" express a single complex idea, where one word would logically be subordinate to the other.
Hendiadys is usually formal, academic, literary, technical (linguistics/rhetoric) in register.
Hendiadys: in British English it is pronounced /hɛnˈdaɪ.ə.dɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /hɛnˈdaɪ.ə.dɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable. The word is a technical term for describing idioms and other constructions.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine HENRY AND I DISSected a sentence: we found two words (HENry AND I) working as one idea (DISSect). Hend-AND-ys.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A TOOLKIT (hendiadys is a specific tool for building meaning).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of hendiadys?