Coun"try (k?n"tr?), n.; pl. Countries (-trz). [F. contre, 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.
Macualay.
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, ∨ throw, one's self upon the country, to appeal to one's constituents; to stand trial before a jury.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913. | 
