What is "hendiadys"

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.

1580s, figure of speech in which two nouns joined by and are used in place of a noun and an adjective; from Medieval Latin alteration of Greek hen dia duoin "one (thing) by means of two." If this term was used by Greek grammarians it is no longer found in their writings, but it is frequent among Latin writers.

n. (context rhetoric English) a figure of speech used for emphasis, where two words joined by ''and'' are used to express a single complex idea.

n. use of two conjoined nouns instead of a noun and modifier

Hendiadys (; a Latinized form of the Greek phrase ἓν διὰ δυοῖν, hèn dià duoîn, "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 the conjunction "and" instead of the one modifying the other.

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