Rural
/ˈrʊə.rəl/noun
Relating to the countryside, rather than a town or city.
Did you know?Latin rūrālis meant “of the country,” from rūs, “the countryside,” a word tied to the ancient Roman idea of land beyond the civilized city—where power, labor, and survival all lived differently.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reus-
“To flow or run; source associated with open land and movement in some proposed reconstructions.”
Latin
Latin
rūs
“The countryside; open land; farmland.”
Latin
Latin
rūrālis
“Of the country; pertaining to the countryside.”
Old French
Old French
rural
“Of the countryside.”
Middle English
English
rural
“Of or belonging to the country.”
Modern English
English
rural
“Relating to the countryside, especially as distinct from a town or city.”