Ceredigion

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A historic county on the west coast of Wales, known for its rural landscapes, coastline and Welsh-speaking communities
2. An administrative area in western Wales bordering Cardigan Bay, covering farmland, hills and a stretch of Welsh coastline
3. A traditional Welsh county located on the western shore of Wales, noted for its scenic countryside and strong Welsh cultural identity

Etymology: Ceredigion is the Welsh name for the county more often called Cardiganshire in English, and its name comes from a person rather than a place feature. The name is traditionally linked to Ceredig, a ruler or prince said to have founded a kingdom in this region of west Wales. The figure appears in medieval Welsh genealogies and legends, where he is given a royal lineage, but historians treat these sources with caution, so the name's link to a real historical king is uncertain. The Welsh form "Ceredigion" is built on the personal name Ceredig with the suffix "-ion", a common element in Welsh place names meaning a territory or region associated with someone. The English form "Cardiganshire" takes the same root but adds the English "-shire" used for counties. Over time the English name "Cardigan" also gave rise to the garment name for a knitted jacket, after the Earl of Cardigan, who was a British cavalry commander in the nineteenth century.