Coun"try (k?n"tr?), n.; pl.
Countries (-tr&?;z). [F. contrée,
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.
