dilogy, duology
Jonathan Lighter
wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM
Wed Nov 29 02:36:04 UTC 2006
Wikipedia speaks:
"Duology also known as dilogy is a set of two works of art, usually a two-part series relating to literature or film, that develop a single theme over two works. A duology may or may not involve a sequel and/or prequel."
OED lacks "duology" and includes "dilogy" only in different senses.
"Duology," at least, gets thousands of raw Googlits. (Tomorrow's Inglish-speakers will undoubtedly prefer "biology" in the indicated sense.)
But seriously: OED appears to lack any single word meaning "a two-part literary, dramatic, or cinematic work" to complement "trilogy" and "tetralogy." I was groping for such a word to describe Herman Wouk's _Winds of War_ and its sequel _War and Remembrance_. Yeah, there's "two-volume novel," but I said "single word."
I came up with "duology," but if Wikipedia already endorses it I may wait for a second round of inspiration.
JL
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