Definition

Proper noun * Arawn: In Welsh mythology, Arawn is the ruler of Annwn, the Otherworld or realm of the fairies. He is a significant figure associated with hunting, hounds, and the supernatural.

Usage

• Arawn is used as a proper name to refer to this specific mythological figure. It is typically not used with articles (like "the" or "a").
  • In the First Branch of the Mabinogi, Pwyll encounters Arawn while hunting.
  • The king of Annwn is Arawn.

Advanced Usage

• The name Arawn is central to several Welsh tales, most notably the story of his year-long exchange of kingdoms and identities with Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed. This narrative establishes themes of friendship, honor, and the connection between the human world and the Otherworld.

Variants and Related Words

• Annwn (Proper noun): The name of the Otherworld realm ruled by Arawn, often described as a land of plenty and eternal youth.
• Cŵn Annwn (Noun phrase, Welsh): Literally "Hounds of Annwn"; the spectral hounds associated with Arawn's hunt, sometimes considered an omen of death.

Synonyms

• There are no direct synonyms for the proper name Arawn. In a descriptive sense, one might use phrases like:
  • the lord of the Otherworld
  • the king of Annwn

Related Phrases

• Arawn's Hunt: Refers to the mythological wild hunt led by Arawn across the skies or between worlds.
• Hounds of Arawn: Another term for the Cŵn Annwn.

Related Mythology

• Arawn is a key deity in the Celtic mythological tradition preserved in medieval Welsh literature. His character contrasts with later depictions of the Otherworld as a place of punishment, representing instead a realm of sovereignty and supernatural power.

Noun

1. Celtic deity who was the lord of Annwfn (the other world or the land of fairies)