n.; pl. Countries [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred. Gen. xxxxii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

I might have learned this by my last exile,
that change of countries cannot change my state. Stirling. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many a famous realm
And country, whereof here needs no account Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Rural regions, as opposed to a city or town. [ 1913 Webster ]

As they walked, on their way into the country. Mark xvi. 12 (Rev. Ver. ). [ 1913 Webster ]

God made the covatry, and man made the town. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Only very great men were in the habit of dividing the year between town and country. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

All the country in a general voice
Cried hate upon him. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) (a) A jury, as representing the citizens of a country. (b) The inhabitants of the district from which a jury is drawn. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mining.) The rock through which a vein runs. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Destitute of refinement; rude; unpolished; rustic; not urbane; as, country manners. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Pertaining, or peculiar, to one's own country. [ 1913 Webster ]

She, bowing herself towards him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, spake in her country language. 2 Macc. vii. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Banking) A national bank not in a reserve city. [ Colloq., U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. Same as Prison base. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A club usually located in the suburbs or vicinity of a city or town and devoted mainly to outdoor sports, and usually having an attached golf course. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

. A relative from the country visiting the city and unfamiliar with city manners and sights. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Prob. an adaptation of contradance. ] See Contradance. [ 1913 Webster ]

He had introduced the English country-dance to the knowledge of the Dutch ladies. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. same as countrified. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n.; pl. Countrymen 1. An inhabitant or native of a region. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One born in the same country with another; a compatriot; -- used with a possessive pronoun. [ 1913 Webster ]

In perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen. 2 Cor. xi. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who dwells in the country, as distinguished from a townsman or an inhabitant of a city; a rustic; a husbandman or farmer. [ 1913 Webster ]

A simple countryman that brought her figs. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A dwelling in the country, used as a place of retirement from the city. [ 1913 Webster ]