Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Country
Coun′try
(k?n′tr?)
, Noun.
pl.
Countries
(-tr[GREEK]z)
. 1.
A tract of land; a region; the territory of an independent nation; (as distinguished from any other region, and with a personal pronoun) the region of one’s birth, permanent residence, or citizenship.
Return unto thy
country
, and to thy kindred. Gen. xxxxii. 9.
I might have learned this by my last exile,
that change of
that change of
countries
cannot change my state. Stirling.
Many a famous realm
And
And
country
, whereof here needs no account Milton.
2.
Rural regions, as opposed to a city or town.
As they walked, on their way into the
country
. Mark xvi. 12 (Rev. Ver. ).
God made the
covatry
, and man made the town. Cowper.
Only very great men were in the habit of dividing the year between town and
country
. Macaulay.
3.
The inhabitants or people of a state or a region; the populace; the public. Hence:
(a)
One's constituents. (b)
The whole body of the electors of state; as, to dissolve Parliament and appeal to the
. country
All the
Cried hate upon him.
country
in a general voiceCried hate upon him.
Shakespeare
4.
(Law)
(a)
A jury, as representing the citizens of a country.
(b)
The inhabitants of the district from which a jury is drawn.
5.
(Mining.)
The rock through which a vein runs.
Conclusion to the country
. See under
– Conclusion
. To put one's self upon the country
, or To throw one's self upon the country
to appeal to one's constituents; to stand trial before a jury.
Coun′try
,Adj.
1.
Pertaining to the regions remote from a city; rural; rustic;
as, a
. country
life; a country
town; the country
party, as opposed to city2.
Destitute of refinement; rude; unpolished; rustic; not urbane;
as,
. country
manners3.
Pertaining, or peculiar, to one's own country.
She, bowing herself towards him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, spake in her
country
language. 2 Macc. vii. 27.
Webster 1828 Edition
Country
COUNTRY
,Noun.
1.
Properly, the land lying about or near a city; the territory situated in the vicinity of a city. Our friend has a seat in the country, a few miles from town. See Mark 5. Luke 8. Hence, 2.
The whole territory of a kingdom or state, as opposed to city. We say, the gentleman has a seat in the country, at any distance from town indefinitely. Hence, 3.
Any tract of land, or inhabited land; any region, as distinguished from other regions; a kingdom, state or lesser district. We speak of all the countries of Europe or Asia.And they came into the country of Moab. Ruth 1.
4.
The kingdom , state or territory in which one is born; the land of nativity; or the particular district indefinitely in which one is born. America is my country, or Connecticut is my country.Laban said, it must not be so done in our country. Genesis 29.
5.
The region in which one resides.He sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country. Hebrews 11.
6.
Land, as opposed to water; or inhabited territory.The shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country. Acts 27.
7.
The inhabitants of a region.All the country wept with a loud voice. 2 Samuel 15.
8.
A place of residence; a region of permanent habitation.They declare plainly that they seek a country. Hebrews 11.
They desire a better country, a heavenly. Hebrews 11.
9.
In law, a jury or jurors; as, trial by the country, per pais.COUNTRY
,Adj.
1.
Pertaining to the country or territory at a distance from a city; rural; rustic; as a country town; a country seat; a country squire; a country life; the country party, as opposed to city party.2.
Pertaining or peculiar to ones own country.He spoke in his country language.
3.
Rude; ignorant.Country-dance, and erroneous orthography. [See Contra-dance.]
Definition 2024
country
country
English
Noun
country (plural countries)
- (archaic) An area of land; a district, region. [from 13th c.]
- 2010, David Vann, The Observer, 7 Mar 2010:
- We walk along flat, open country, red dirt and spinifex grass, a few short trees […].
- 2010, David Vann, The Observer, 7 Mar 2010:
- A set region of land having particular human occupation or agreed limits, especially inhabited by members of the same race, language speakers etc., or associated with a given person, occupation, species etc. [from 13th c.]
- 2007, Chris Moss, The Guardian, 17 Feb 2007:
- This is condor country - the only region this far east where you can see the magnificent vulture - and a small national park straddling the passes, El Condorito, is a good stopover for walkers and birders.
- 2007, Chris Moss, The Guardian, 17 Feb 2007:
- The territory of a nation, especially an independent nation state or formerly independent nation; a political entity asserting ultimate authority over a geographical area. [from 14th c.]
- 1935, George Goodchild, chapter 5, in Death on the Centre Court:
- By one o'clock the place was choc-a-bloc. […] The restaurant was packed, and the promenade between the two main courts and the subsidiary courts was thronged with healthy-looking youngish people, drawn to the Mecca of tennis from all parts of the country.
- 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, page 3:
- It is a beautiful country of rolling hills, fertile valleys, and a thousand rivers and streams which keep the landscape green even in winter.
- 2010, The Economist, 3 Feb 2011:
- These days corporate Germany looks rather different. Volkswagen, the country’s leading carmaker, wants to be the world’s biggest by 2018.
- 2013 June 22, “T time”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 68:
- The ability to shift profits to low-tax countries by locating intellectual property in them, which is then licensed to related businesses in high-tax countries, is often assumed to be the preserve of high-tech companies.
-
-
(usually preceded by “the”) A rural area, as opposed to a town or city; the countryside. [from 16th c.]
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.17:
- I was borne and brought up in the Countrie, and amidst husbandry […].
- 2000, Alexander Chancellor, The Guardian, 4 Mar.:
- I have always thought that one of the main reasons for the popularity of blood sports in the country is the pointlessness of going outdoors with no purpose or destination in mind.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.17:
- Country music. [from 20th c.]
- (mining) The rock through which a vein runs.
Derived terms
Terms derived from country (noun)
Translations
region of land
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nation state
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the country, rural area, as opposed to the town or city
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country music
See also
- Appendix:Countries of the world
Adjective
country (not comparable)
- From or in the countryside or connected with it.
- 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 5, in The Celebrity:
- When this conversation was repeated in detail within the hearing of the young woman in question, and undoubtedly for his benefit, Mr. Trevor threw shame to the winds and scandalized the Misses Brewster then and there by proclaiming his father to have been a country storekeeper.
-
- Of or connected to country music.
Translations
of, from or pertaining to the countryside (adjective)
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Statistics
Finnish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈcou̯ntry/
Noun
country
Declension
Declension of country (type risti)
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Usage notes
The inflection of this word is somewhat awkward as it does not fit nicely into any Finnish declension category although risti is the closest. Many speakers prefer to use synonyms when they have to inflect the word.