Sound and fury


Hendiadys (pronounced /hɛnˈdaɪ.ədɨs/, a Latinized form of the Greek phrase ἓν διὰ δυοῖν, hèn dià duoîn, “one through two”) is a figure of speech used for emphasis, and is defined as the substitution of a conjunction for a subordination. The basic idea is to use two words linked by a conjunction (e.g. and) to express a single, complex idea.

Examples of this include sound and fury (from Macbeth) versus the furious sound. The Kingdom, the power and the glory (from the Lord’s Prayer) instead of a glorious, powerful kingdom

This is to be distinguished from a tautology, which is an unnecessary or unessential (and sometimes unintentional) repetition of meaning, using different and dissimilar words that effectively say the same thing.

Common examples of tautology you might come across day to day include free gift, a short summary or a new innovation.