Hendiatris

Hendiatris (/hɛnˈd.ətrɪs/ hen-DY-ət-riss; from Ancient Greek ἓν διὰ τρία (hèn dià tría) 'one through three') is a figure of speech used for emphasis, in which three words are used to express one idea.[1][2] The phrases "sun, sea and sand", and "wine, women and song" are examples.

A tripartite motto is the conventional English term for a motto, a slogan, or an advertising phrase in the form of a hendiatris. Some well-known examples are the formula "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" from the United States Declaration of Independence, Jesus Christ's Via, Veritas, Vita and Julius Caesar's Veni, vidi, vici (examples of a tricolon); and the motto of the French Republic: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité; the phrase peace, order and good government is used as a guiding principle in the parliaments of the Commonwealth of Nations.

  1. ^ Kevin WILSON; Jennifer WAUSON (3 August 2010). The AMA Handbook of Business Writing: The Ultimate Guide to Style, Grammar, Punctuation, Usage, Construction and Formatting. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. p. 216. ISBN 978-0-8144-1590-0. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  2. ^ Gregory T. Howard, Dictionary of Rhetorical Terms, p. 115