ENGLISH
REFERENCE

somerset

n. uncountable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈsəmɝˌsɛt// UK //sˈʌməsˌɛt// som·er·set Archaic

n. a county in the southwest of England known for its beautiful countryside and farming. It is famous for making cider and hosting the Glastonbury music festival.

n. a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England, bordered by Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset, and Devon. Historically significant for its agricultural output and the Somerset Levels.


SIMPLE

We spent our summer holiday visiting small villages in Somerset.

CONTEXTUAL

The local economy in Somerset relies heavily on tourism and the production of traditional cheddar cheese.

COMPLEX

The rolling hills of Somerset have long inspired poets and artists, serving as a quintessential example of the English pastoral landscape during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Synonyms
Origin

From Old English Sumorsǣte, which is short for Sumortūnsǣte, meaning "the people living at or dependent upon Sumortūn (Somerton)". An alternative suggestion is that the name derives from *Seo-mere-sætan meaning "settlers by the sea lakes".

Usage

Used as a proper noun to refer to the specific geographic region in England.

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