Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Country?

\Coun"try\ (k?n"tr?), n.; pl. {Countries} (-tr?z). [F. contr['e]e, LL. contrata, fr. L. contra over against, on the opposite side. Cf. {Counter}, adv., {Contra}.] 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 countries cannot change my state. --Stirling. Many a famous realm 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 country in a general voice Cried hate upon him. --Shak. 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, or throw, one's self upon the country}, to appeal to one's constituents; to stand trial before a jury.
\Coun"try\, a. 1. Pertaining to the regions remote from a city; rural; rustic; as, a country life; a country town; the country party, as opposed to city. 2. Destitute of refinement; rude; unpolished; rustic; not urbane; as, country manners. 3. 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.