English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
name

Wessex

WEHS-ihks

Wessex (name) means a historic Anglo-Saxon kingdom in southern England, and the fictional setting of Thomas Hardy's novels. Example: “Thomas Hardy set many of his novels in the region he called Wessex.”

name
1
A historic Anglo-Saxon kingdom in southern England, and the fictional setting of Thomas Hardy's novels.
"Thomas Hardy set many of his novels in the region he called Wessex."
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “Wessex” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Thomas Hardy set many of his novels in the region he called _____.

Etymology

From Middle English Westsex, from Old English Westseaxan (literally “West Saxons”), which stood for both Wessex and its people. The use of Wessex in a modern context for the West Country was popularised by Thomas Hardy, who used the term for his semi-fictional setting based on the region.

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for Wessex

See all rhymes for Wessex →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Wessex” mean?

The word “Wessex” means a historic Anglo-Saxon kingdom in southern England, and the fictional setting of Thomas Hardy's novels.

How do you pronounce “Wessex”?

“Wessex” is pronounced WEHS-ihks (/ˈwɛs.ɪks/ in IPA).

How do you use “Wessex” in a sentence?

Here is “Wessex” used in a sentence: “Thomas Hardy set many of his novels in the region he called Wessex.”

What part of speech is “Wessex”?

“Wessex” is a name.

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial · etymology from Wiktionary