a class of compound words consisting of two elements having a coordinate relationship as if connected by and
2.
a compound word of this type, such as Austro-Hungarian, tragicomic
Word origin
from Sanskrit dvamdva a pair, from the reduplication of dvatwo
dvandva in American English
(ˈdvɑːndvɑː, ˈdvʌndvə)
noun
Grammar
a compound word neither element of which is subordinate to the other, as bittersweet, Anglo-Saxon
Word origin
[1840–50; ‹ Skt, nasalized redupl. of dvatwo]This word is first recorded in the period 1840–50. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: creationism, flan, layout, pylon, sensationalism