merionethshire: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low
UK/ˌmɛrɪˈɒnɪθʃə/US/ˌmɛriˈɑːnəθʃɪr/

Formal, Historical, Geographical

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Quick answer

What does “merionethshire” mean?

A historic county in north-west Wales.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A historic county in north-west Wales.

Refers to the geographical, historical, and cultural region of that county, now primarily part of the modern county of Gwynedd. Its name is used in historical contexts, genealogy, and traditional references.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The term is known and used in British English, particularly in Welsh and historical contexts. It is virtually unknown in general American English.

Connotations

In the UK, it evokes Welsh history, heritage, and local identity. In the US, it would likely be unrecognized or associated only with specialist knowledge.

Frequency

Extremely rare in American English. Very low frequency in British English, limited to specific domains.

Grammar

How to Use “merionethshire” in a Sentence

[preposition] + Merionethshire (e.g., in, from, of)

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
historic county ofold county ofin Merionethshire
medium
Merionethshire slateMerionethshire coastrecords for Merionethshire
weak
beautiful Merionethshirerural Merionethshirevisit Merionethshire

Examples

Examples of “merionethshire” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • Merionethshire parishes
  • Merionethshire archives

American English

  • Merionethshire genealogy
  • Merionethshire history

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually unused, except perhaps in very niche tourism or heritage branding.

Academic

Used in historical, geographical, and genealogical research papers and texts.

Everyday

Extremely rare. Would only be used by locals, historians, or those with family roots there.

Technical

Used in historical cartography, archival documentation, and certain geological surveys (e.g., Merionethshire slate).

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “merionethshire”

Strong

Gwynedd (modern administrative equivalent)

Neutral

the historic countythe old county

Weak

the regionnorth-west Wales

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “merionethshire”

  • Misspelling as 'Merionethshire' (adding an extra 'e') or 'Merionethshire'.
  • Confusing it with Montgomeryshire or another Welsh county.
  • Using it as a current administrative term.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a historic county. Since 1974, most of its area has been part of the modern county of Gwynedd.

In British English, it is commonly pronounced /ˌmɛrɪˈɒnɪθʃə/ (merry-ON-ith-sher).

The historic county town was Dolgellau.

You are most likely to see it in historical documents, maps, genealogical records, or in discussions of Welsh history and heritage.

A historic county in north-west Wales.

Merionethshire is usually formal, historical, geographical in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine 'Mary on a ship' sailing to the coast of this historic Welsh county.

Conceptual Metaphor

A PLACE IS A RECORD OF THE PAST (as it primarily exists now as a historical and archival entity).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
Before the 1974 reorganisation, was a historic county in Wales.
Multiple Choice

What is Merionethshire primarily known as today?