| 释义 |
countryn.adj. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French contré. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman contré, countré, cuntré, Anglo-Norman and Old French cuntree, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French contree, Middle French contrie (French contrée ) region, area of land delimited by natural or political boundaries (c1100; c1050 as cuntretha , cuntrede ) < post-classical Latin contrata , contrada region (12th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources), quarter of a city (12th cent.) < classical Latin contrā against, opposite (see contra prep.) + -āta -ate suffix1; compare -y suffix5, lit. ‘that which lies opposite or fronting the view, the landscape spread out before one’; compare Old Occitan encontrada that encountered or met with. For possible evidence of earlier currency in English from a surname see note at countryman n.Forms in other languages. Compare Occitan contrada , Italian contrada (beginning of the 13th cent. in sense ‘street’, a1237 in sense ‘land, region’). Compare also Middle High German gegende , gegent region, area, locality (German Gegend ) < gegen against, probably after the Old French word. Development of individual senses. In legal use in sense A. 7 after use of classical Latin patria (13th cent. in post-classical Latin in British sources: see patria n.) and Anglo-Norman pais , pays (late 13th cent. or earlier: see pais n.) in the specific sense ‘jury’, which arose from the status of the jury as residents of the area in which the case or question under dispute occurred. Position of main stress. Stress on the final syllable, which was common in verse in Middle English, is used as an archaism in poetry in the 18th and 19th centuries, sometimes distinguished by the spelling countree, countrie. Compare: a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 2362 Oute of þi kiþ and þis cuntree.c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Sir Thopas (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 7 Yborn he was in fer contree In Flaundres al biyonde the see.c1440 Tomas of Ersseldoune (Thornton) (1875) l. 346 Wha sall be kynge, wha sall be none, And wha sall welde this northe countre??c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 4651 To straunge contre he wil we trus.a1784 Dick o' the Cow xli, in W. Scott Minstrelsy Sc. Border (1802) I. 147 Thus Dickie has fell'd Johnie Armstrang The prettiest man in the south country [rhyme three].1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere vii, in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 44 He loves to talk with Marineres That come from a far Contrée.1815 Ld. Byron Let. 25 Dec. in Lett. & Jrnls. (1830) II. 323 And some are in a far countree. A. n. I. General uses. 1. The land of a person's birth, citizenship, residence, etc.; one's homeland. Used both in the wider sense of native land or state (now more usual), and in the narrower one of the particular district to which a person belongs.society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > a land or country > [noun] > homeland or native land a1300 (?a1250) Serm. (Trin. Cambr.) in (1928) 2 106 (MED) Wilde wimmen & gol me[n] i mi contereie, wan he gon o þe ring..so sein þei þus: ‘Atte wrastling mi leman, [etc.]’. a1350 ( in R. H. Robbins (1959) 15 (MED) Sire edward oure kyng..þe waleis quarters sende to is oune contre, on four half to honge. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 722 (MED) Mi-self knowe ich nouȝt mi ken ne mi kontre noiþer. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer (Hunterian) (1891) l. 5659 In erthe is not oure Countre. a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice l. 376 in (1981) 145 He wald ask rycht noucht, Bot licence wyth his wyf away to pas Till his contree, that he so fer had soucht. 1548 f. xiij The most pernicious..enemy to them and his owne naturall countrey. 1630 R. Brathwait Contents sig. A2v Motives to Hospitality with a reclaime of our Gentry from the Court to their Countrey. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil 147 Mighty Cæsar..asserts his Country's Cause. View more context for this quotation 1705 J. Addison 13 Heroes, that have..acted for the Good of their Country. 1754 W. Borlase in (Royal Soc.) 48 87 A flat rock..(which in our country [sc. Cornwall] we call a quoit). 1776 C. Lee Let. 24 Jan. in G. Washington (1988) Revolutionary War Ser. III. 182 These Connecticutians are..more eager to go out of their Country than They are to return home. 1855 T. B. Macaulay III. 304 The people had no love for their country or for their king. 1886 C. S. Parnell in 26 June 10/2 They denounced Mr. Gladstone as a betrayer of his country. 1926 67 1121 We are met on this day of remembrance that we may pay our homage to those who died for their country in the Great War. 1963 E. Taylor iv. 59 In trying to adapt herself to her husband's country and culture she went native with naive violence that would have seemed ludicrous if it had not proved so fatal. 2004 Feb. 33/1 He loved his country with a consuming passion. c1300 (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 1520 ‘Eche lond’, he seide: ‘is contray [Laud owene contreie] to the stronge.’ ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) ii. pr. iv. l. 1093 Þis same place þat þou clepist exil is contre to hem þat enhabiten here. 1570 T. Norton sig. B.jv It driueth out naturall loue of countrey, for it prostituteth all dominions to the common adulterer, vnderminer, and forcer of kingdomes, the Bull of Rome. 1575 W. Painter (rev. ed.) I. i. f. 1v Which speake of..inuincible mindes, of bold aduentures for Countries saufetie. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. vii. 81 Forgiue me Countrey, and sweet Countreymen. View more context for this quotation a1678 A. Marvell Last Instr. to Painter in (1689) III. 8 A Gross of English Gentry.., and to no Faction sworn; Dear Lovers of their King, and Death to meet, For Countrys Cause, that Glorious think and sweet. 1738 A. Pope 10 See thronging Millions to the Pagod run, And offer Country, Parent, Wife, or Son! 1852 Ld. Tennyson vi. 61 If love of country move thee there at all. 1889 16 Mar. 321/2 The old-fashioned love of country which never swells into bombast or sinks into chauvinism. 1918 Feb. 1/2 For God and Country! That's the Scout Oath. 1953 Dec. 17/1 Loyalty to country held overriding precedence to loyalty to party. 2004 T. Tuohy in M. Hickey 252 They have no love of country, no love of language nor no love of culture. 2. Land, terrain, or a region of undefined extent, esp. considered with regard to its physical characteristics. Frequently with distinguishing words, as chalk country, fen country, stag-hunting country, country of the red deer, etc. black, high, low, old country; also north, south, east, west country: see the first element.the world > the earth > land > tract > [noun] > undefined extent c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Otho) (1963) 643 Bi Ruscicadan hii neome þe see, and bi þe contre of Assare [c1275 Calig. montaine of Azare]. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 531 He com & vond..an place vair inou, In god contreie & plentiuous. a1375 (c1350) (1867) 2217 Þei trauailed al a niȝt..no couert miȝt þei kacche, þe cuntre was so playne. a1425 J. Wyclif (1871) II. 9 (MED) Marie..wente into monteyne contre. c1475 tr. C. de Pisan (Cambr.) (1977) 156 Hanyball..went into Italye and distroyed all the lowe contre. 1535 Luke i. E All this acte was noysed abrode thorow out all the hill countre of Iewry. 1574 E. Hellowes tr. A. de Guevara 314 (heading) A letter vnto the Abbot of saint Peter of Cardenia, in which hee much praiseth the mountaine countrey. 1612 E. Grimeston tr. L. T. de Mayerne xviii. 656 The king on a time hauing hunted late in vnknowne countrie.., recouered his lodging. 1684 ii. 9 For that the Countrey is there Composed of vast Campagn and level woods. 1763 Jan. 34/2 There is..good reason to imagine that the Terra Antarctica..contains some some tracts of good country. 1791 W. Gilpin II. 49 It's woody scenes, it's extended lawns, and vast sweeps of wild country. 1839 Oct. 243/2 We expect to travel twenty days before we reach the buffalo country. 1881 J. Russell iii. 38 Round Jedburgh and Hawick were immense belts of country covered with trees. 1926 V. Bell Let. in (1993) 293 We then hired a motor and went off at a breakneck speed through lovely country. 1979 (Nexis) 19 Aug. (Bookword section) 4 Avebury lies in the rolling chalk country of the Marlborough Downs in Northern Wiltshire. 1995 Feb. 15/2 Discussions of what fine country Bosnia made for guerrilla fighting. 2012 (Nexis) 5 May a42 Just outside the door, there is a stunning lake to walk around and huge expanse of country to explore. the world > the earth > region of the earth > [noun] a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 373 Aluredus..ladde uncerteyn and unesy lyf in þe wode contrayes of Somersete [L. per silvestria Sumersetensis]. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 275 He com unto a low contrey full of..fayre meedys. 1496 (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/11) f. 17 My two hallinges & ij parlourynges..one of theme peynted with..fenne Countreys & bourdred with historyes of the bible. a1500 (?c1450) ii. 32 That contre [sc. Northumberland] is full of grete forestis. 1578 T. Nicholas tr. F. Lopez de Gómara 179 This tree groweth in a hote Countrey. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy iii. 92 To..sit still without preading, in a wast and desart countrey. 1698 J. Crull tr. C. Dellon (Suppl.) 28 You cross a most delicious Champion Country, where there is great plenty of good Pastorage. c1710 C. Fiennes (1888) 128 To persons born in up and dry Countryes. 1795 65 632 In the fen countries the labourers are denominated bankers. 1822 W. Cobbett Rural Rides in 29 June 829 The saint-foin hay has all been got in, in the chalk countries, without a drop of wet. 1834 J. Forbes IV. xxxvii. 20 An indifferent road through a hilly country brought us to Maulpoor. 1895 Sept. 522/1 Up here to this country of inspiring climate, of wondrous woods and waters—above all, this country of the red deer. 1957 XII. 204/1 A mountainous country, lying east of the San Pedro river in Arizona. 1991 22 374 I wasn't skiing. I wasn't doing any of the things that people in Oregon can do that you can't do if you live in a flat country like the middle west. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > country as opposed to town > [noun] c1300 St. Kenelm (Laud) l. 292 in C. Horstmann (1887) 353 (MED) Of þe cite of wynchecumbe and of þe contreie þare-bi-side. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 11829 (MED) Sir simond him bi þoȝte it nas nouȝt god abide In þe castel to longe..Him þoȝte þe wide contreie wolde him liki bet. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 11891 Hii adde wel astored þen castel..Of corn & fless igadered in þe contreie wide. c1436 Domesday Ipswich (BL Add. 25011) in T. Twiss (1873) II. 101 (MED) The ordynaunces that ben ordeyned in the same market for the comoun profit of the foreseid toun of Gippeswych, and of alle the contre aboute. 1452 in J. T. Gilbert (1889) I. 275 No hagards man..shulde no sell no maner of corne..Ne they shulde not go in to the contre to byge corne. c1475 (c1450) P. Idley (Cambr.) (1935) ii. A. l. 934 (MED) Moche Ioye in that Cetee the people made..all the vengeaunce vanysshed and past. But in the Contrey it contynued and laste. 1526 Mark v. f. l And the swyne heerdes fleed, and tolde it in the cite, and in the countre. 1530 J. Palsgrave 587/2 I lyke nat his daunsing, he hoppeth and tryppeth lyke one of the countraye ..comme vng paysant. 1593 T. Nashe f. 48v In the Country the Gentleman..vndoeth the Farmer. In London, the Vsurer snatcheth vp the Gentleman. 1604 sig. B2 Hee would..rather bee a Wood-cleauer in the Country, then a chest-breaker in London. 1697 T. Smith in H. Ellis (1843) (Camden) 241 Hee..is gone into the Country, but not farr from London. 1726 J. Swift II. iii. iv. 53 We passed through one of the Town-Gates, and went about three Miles into the Country. 1785 W. Cowper i. 749 God made the country, and man made the town. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. 319 The refinements of the capital follow him into the country. 1891 92 107/2 [He] has so far recovered as to be able to leave town for the country. 1927 Feb. 225 Of the many thousands of children who were sent into the country..25% stayed for two weeks or more in the Holiday Camps. 1952 13 Dec. 128/2 A rugged coat for the country,..cut something like a hunting coat. 2007 S. Worboyes iii. 72 He had always hankered after a place in the country. 4. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > [noun] c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 387 in C. Horstmann (1887) 117 Þe king nam..þoruȝ Engelond..ane summe of panes..he let þoruȝ þe contreies an-quere hov muche ech Man scholde paiȝe. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) l. 2533 Hengist..him grantede..is doȝter abbe to wif, Vor ȝwat þe king ȝeue him þe contreie of kent. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) ii. 39 Þe cuntre of Dorseth, lond & tenement, Alle had þei wasted, fro Seuerne vnto Kent. ?1433 W. Dallyng Petition to Parl. in (2004) II. 509 William Paston..takyth diuerse fees and rewardes of diuerses persones with-jnne the shire of Norffolk and Suffolk, and is with-holde with euery matere in the sayde contrees. 1480 (Caxton) xcix. sig. fj Ther was a kyng Britonne that helde the contre of leicestre & all the contre [printed coutre] aboute named Brecinal. a1500 (?c1378) J. Wyclif (1880) 422 (MED) Þey wolen infecte cuntreys, & cuntreys wolen infecte reumes. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert f. lv In Lecestreshyre, Lankeshyre, yorkeshyre..and many other countreeis, the ploughes be of dyuers makinges. 1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay viii. 108 The very account of the yeere was vncerteine and confuzed in the countrie of Europe, vntill the time of Iulius Cæsar. 1612 J. Davies 156 When the Duke of Normandy had conquered England..he..gaue not away whole Shires and Countreyes in demesne to any of his seruitors. 1665 Sir C. Lyttelton in E. M. Thompson (1878) I. 47 Welcomed by..the nobility and gentlemen of the contrys with the volunteer troopes as wee passed. 1708 J. Chamberlayne (ed. 22) ii. iii. 375 Aberdeenshire..contains the Countries of Marre, Fourmanteen, Garioch, Strathbogie, and..part of Buchan. 1795 W. MacRitchie 1 July (1897) 32 The whole country of Lancashire, with its rivers, towns and villages, &c., lying in extensive map below us. 1798 Prince of Wales Let. 17 Sept. in Lady Chatterton (1861) I. xxi. 347 To know whether I would not give up hunting what is called the Piddletown country. 1808 J. Austen 1 Oct. (1952) 213 He is gone into Cornwall to order a Vessel built for himself by a famous Man in that Country. 1829 W. Scott (new ed.) I. Introd. p. xcii The fort at Inversnaid, constructed for the express purpose of bridling the country of the MacGregors. 1887 T. Darlington Country, a countryside, district. Two adjoining parishes might be spoken of as different countries. 1897 W. E. Roth 160 The aboriginal will speak to this Being... ‘Do not touch me. I belong to this country.’ 1907 M. Bowen i. 10 They would not live at peace..if they were two hundred men alone in the country of the Campbells. 1988 R. I. Rotberg xi. 272 The London Missionary Society also wished to be backed officially in the distant reaches of Bechuanaland and in the country of the Ndebele. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > a land or country > part of country or district > [noun] > associated with a particular person 1877 Apr. 488 (title) Master Robert Shallow. A study of the Shakespeare country. 1890 1 Nov. 220/2 All last week I was in the Dickens country, ‘the sweet county of Kent’. 1900 J. Leyland 92 This survey of Shakespeare Country has traversed a rich district of middle England that was familiar to the great poet in his boyhood. 1956 P. Mortimer vii. 69 Constable country, of course. You care for Constable? 1962 24 Dec. 6/7 The Enid Blyton country does not date. 2008 O. Berry & B. Dixon (Lonely Planet) 138/1 The country around Dorchester is Thomas Hardy country. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > a land or country > [noun] c1300 St. John Evangelist (Laud) l. 71 in C. Horstmann (1887) 404 Domician..hiet him fleo out of þe londe... I-harled he was out of rome..and i-outlawed ase a þeof, þat he in þe contreye ne come. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) ii. 162 To þat sollempnite com..Of Jerusalem cuntre þe gode kyng Guyoun. a1425 J. Wyclif (1871) II. 11 Þe contree clepid Bythynye. c1540 (?a1400) (2002) f. 84v What kynges þere come of countres aboute. 1556 N. Grimald tr. Cicero i. f. 22 To bee of one countrie, of one nation, of one language. c1610–15 Some Notes before Liues in C. Horstmann (1886) 11 There was such friendship, societie, and familiarity betweene the Religious of that contrie [sc. Ireland] and England, that [etc.]. 1673 J. Ray Pref. Spain..being a Countrey out of the ordinary road of Travellers. 1718 No. 56. 2 A Country, where every Thing is in the Disposal of the Crown. 1795 J. Farington 25 Dec. (1978) II. 455 In both these Countries High German is only learnt in Schools. 1828 W. F. Napier I. 137 The invasion of Napoleon produced a friendly alliance between those countries without a declaration of peace. 1858 24 July America is a dashing,..and highly progressive country. 1885 433 Irish Peers..may represent any Borough, County, or University in England or Scotland, but not in Ireland. Peers of Scotland cannot be elected as Members of Parliament in any of the three countries. 1903 25 Dec. 6/2 India is a hot country. 1976 May 114/3 If you live in the South-East you're probably paying more for your food than people in the rest of the country. 2004 J. Mak 31 Korea is a cheap country to visit due to its geographic proximity to Japan. the world > people > nations > [noun] c1300 St. Matthew (Laud) l. 70 in C. Horstmann (1887) 79 Þe king and is heore beden bede, and alþe contreiȝe al-so. a1350 ( in R. H. Robbins (1959) 16 Sire Edward of carnaruan.., sire Emer de valence..wolleþ ous delyuren of þat false contre [sc. Scotland], ȝef hii conne. a1400 (a1325) (Fairf. 14) l. 13262 Þe cuntray hally til him soȝt. a1425 Rev. Methodius in J. Trevisa (1925) 95 Seth toke his cuntrey [v.r. generacioun]..into an hil þat was next to Paradise. a1500 (?c1400) Earl of Toulous l. 448 in W. H. French & C. B. Hale (1930) I. 396 The cuntrey gedyrd abowte hym faste, And aftur hym ȝorne they chaste. 1548 f. xxiiiiv By the puissaunce of the townsmen and aide of the countrey, they were repulsed. 1576 A. Fleming tr. Hippocrates in 267 That countrie was at defiaunce and daggers drawing with the lande of Græcia. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. i. 134 All the Countrey, in a generall voyce, Cry'd hate vpon him. 1680 W. Temple Ess. Orig. & Nature Govt. in (1720) I. 95 The same Countries have generally in all times been used to Forms of Government much of a sort. 1733 A. Pope 10 No Noon tide-bell invites the Country round. 1784 W. Cowper II. 814 The country mourns. a1854 Ld. Cockburn (1856) vii. 409 What was called the country, that is, the country as represented by town councils and lairds was nearly unanimous against this reform. 1870 26 June 9/2 On Friday, as we have intimated, heavy showers fell, and the country rejoiced. 1946 28 Jan. 34/1 With sudden shock the country felt the effect of the walkouts. 1983 July 14/2 Since our country celebrated its bicentennial in 1976.., many persons are tracing their family trees. 2011 (Nexis) Aug. 108 The country watched in horror this spring as tornados killed more than 500 people. society > law > administration of justice > one who administers justice > jury > [noun] > summoned from neighbourhood a1325 (2011) xii. 66 Þe schirreue þoru himsulf ant þoru his frendes..procurez þe contreie ant underornez. 1371 in H. M. Flasdieck (1926) 103 Feffyd..with chartere symple..by wytnesse of contre. a1425 (a1400) (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 2948 Als a man has drede bodily, When he es acouped of felony Byfor kynges iustice, and þe cuntre. c1443 R. Pecock (1927) 231 If oon man of a doseyn be aweie, þere is not a quest or a cuntre þat may eny þing lawfully..averri. 1566 T. Heskyns Prol. sig. Bii Who shal bringe furth that one scripture.., that he will accept, as plainlie prouing the matter? None but he himself.., moche like to the Felon that pleadeth not giltie, and stoutlie crieth to be tried by God, and the contrie. 1583 ii. xxiii. 78 If he [sc. the prisoner] pleade there not guiltie, the Clarke asketh him howe he will be tryed and telleth him he must saie, by God and the Countrie, for these be the words formall of this triall after Inditement. 1768 W. Blackstone III. xx. 313 He..prays the judgment of the peers..‘may be enquired of by the country’. 1880 4 Nov. By his country, represented by twelve men in a box, he will be tried. 1922 R. Sabatini (U.S. ed.) iii. 27 Mr. Blood answered thereafter, as was required of him, that he would be tried by God and his country. society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > folk music > [noun] > country and western 1969 N. Cohn 196 The Byrds are a trio and play mostly country. 1989 Mar. 59/1 Did you go through periods of playing strictly country? 2004 (National ed.) 26 Mar. b8/4 Mr. Meyer is the rare musician who can play country, blues or classical without making the music sound like watered-down crossover. II. Technical uses. 1671 (Royal Soc.) 6 2105 The Load is usually in an hard (i.e. in a Rocky or Shelfy) Countrey, made up of metal, spars, and other weeds, and as it were all a long a continued Rock; but have many veins and joints..; but in some softer Countries, the Tin may lie in a softer consistence, as that of clay in a manner petrified. 1693 (Royal Soc.) 17 674 The Colour of the Earth where Calamine lies, is generally a yellow Grit, but sometimes black; for all Countries, as they term their underground Works, are not alike. a1705 J. Ray Itineraries in (1760) 270 The Load, both above and beneath, is covered with a Crust or Stony Substance, which hath no Tin in it, which they call Country. 1770 G. von Engeström & E. M. da Costa tr. A. F. Cronstedt 2 (note) Countries, an English mine-term for the sides or inclosures of a vein or load of ore, e. g. the country of the load is lime-stone, killas, &c. 1778 W. Pryce ii. i. 76 Tin Lodes are very seldom found in Ire-stone, but very rich Copper Lodes in many places are natural to this Stratum or country. 1804 M. Edgeworth Lame Jervas iv, in I. 18 Instead of beginning to work the vein, they covered it up immediately with rubbish, and defaced the country with their pick-axes, so that, to look at, no one could have suspected there was any load to be found near. 1858 O. M. Lieber ii. 38 As a country for metalliferous veins, the mica slate occupies a prominent position. 1923 9 i. 26 In the No. 2 Bore, at a depth of 909 feet, there occurs a marked change of country, the porphyrite giving way to a black graphitic schist or slate. 1947 H. Innes vi. 148 Manack had said he could give me accurate figures for the amount of country we had to blast through. 1978 J. B. McAra 183 Chamber sets had to be well anchored in the country. 1691 A. Swall tr. S. Le P. de Vauban i. iv. 11 (Gloss.) Counterscarp, is properly the declining of the Moat on that side next the Country. 1774 F. Holliday ix. 186 The exterior slope or talus of the parapet is that facing the country. 1859 H. Douglas ii. 126 On the side next to the country, the rampart, which is of earth, is broken. a1877 E. H. Knight I. 638/1 Country,..2. The region outside of a fort down to which the glacis slopes. 2010 J.-D. G. G. Lepage ii. 49 The water thus swelled above the banks and overflew the country. †11. Nautical. the world > the earth > water > sea or ocean > region of sea or ocean > [noun] 1694 T. Phillips Jrnl. Voy. in (1732) VI. 177/2 My carpenters..clapt four good wooldings upon him [sc. a mast], which I was in hopes would sufficiently secure him, we every day approaching nearer a fair weather country. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter i. iii. 22 The Spanish sailors, being for the most part accustomed to a fair weather country. 1820 W. Scoresby II. 237 What the fishers call..the close season, when the country is nearly full of ice. 1821 A. Fisher 270 They also told us that no less than eleven ships were destroyed in this country by the ice last year. society > travel > travel by water > [noun] > region to which ship assigned 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Country, a term synonymous with station. The place whither a ship happens to be ordered. 1781 P. Beckford xxii. 293 All countries are not equally favourable to hounds. I hunt in three, all as different as it is possible to be. 1828 Nov. 22/2 Hounds are occasionally taken for a few days to hunt a country at a distance from home. 1885 1 As well as a hunting-man knows his country. 1907 24 680 The ‘hunting race’ always takes place in a rough country, with fences till the run in is reached. 2007 E. Griffin 165 The committee's primary role was to arbitrate in quarrels between neighbouring packs over the ownership of coverts or the extent of their country. 1832 E. C. Wines I. 25 The open space in the steerage between the mess rooms is familiarly called the ‘country.’ 1853 E. K. Kane iii. 25 The area..which is known to naval men as ‘the country’, seemed completely filled up with the hinged table. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [noun] > parts of field 1878 24 May 4/3 Garrett has the credit of being the highest scorer, but he ought to have been caught in the country by Mr. Cursham when he had made 2. 1888 A. G. Steel in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) iv. 215 None of these are quick enough or good throwers enough for fielding in the country. 1912 A. Brazil vii. 115 Driving the first ball she received into ‘the country’ for three. 1927 5 July 6/5 His fielding in the country is of the finest. 2012 (Nexis) 16 Aug. (Sport section) 96 Baggs was caught in the country swinging at Harry Booker. B. adj.society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > country as opposed to town > [adjective] society > society and the community > social class > nobility > aristocracy or upper class > gentry > [adjective] > belonging to gentry 1827 M. S. Stanhope I. iii. 25 With her own good will she never would have moved farther from Portman Square, than Kensington Gardens; that was quite country enough for her. 1838 E. C. Gaskell 17 July (1966) 19 Rivington is such a very pretty place, & so thoroughly country. 1890 S. Hale (1919) 235 It is far more country here than they are. 1947 C. H. Warren iii. 74 He is country to the core—and Cotswold country at that. 1981 12 Jan. 36/1 Chez Catherine is very French, very country.., and very good. 2007 S. Allison in R. Labonte 106 Who puts pepper on watermelon? He was so country. Phrasesa1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) l. 7727 (MED) [He] trauayled o tyme by þe cuntre [Fr. en chemin]. c1400 (?c1390) (1940) l. 734 In peryl & payne & plytes ful harde Bi contray ca[yr]eȝ [MS caryeȝ] þis knyȝt. c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in (1897) 12 85 So they fled all afor hym..and toke theym all to gedre as they that were oute of array, and fled by the contre as bestes. c1500 (Ashm.) (1967) l. 351 Be contre as þei wend, All þat wreches kynd þei schent. c1435 R. Armburgh Let. in C. Carpenter (1998) 147 Theireplyed [sic] and seid that there was non deliuered to you and that thei wolden averen be the contre and y seid this and that y wold put me vppon the contre. 1624 Bp. F. White 579 We must hold him to stand mute, as one not daring to put himselfe to his Countrey, lest he be found guiltie. 1660 (1679) 110 And for his Tryal hath put himself upon God and the Countrey, which Countrey you are. 1752 J. Louthian (ed. 2) 206 He hath pleaded, Not guilty; and for his Trial, hath put himself upon God and the Country. 1863 H. Cox ii. x. 550 When the prisoner has pleaded not guilty, and for his trial put himself ‘upon the country’ (which country the jury are). 2008 (Nexis) 14 Nov. a1 She used that phrase which formally marks the start of any trial, part of which says, ‘He has put himself upon his country, which country you are.’ 1695 J. Sergeant 5 Luxemburg coming across the Country, we were fain to out run our new Fortress. 1707 G. Farquhar iii. 27 Gib. They'll be here to Night, Sir. Aim. Which way do they march? Gib. Across the Country. 1771 T. Smollett II. 102 Two days ago, we went across the country to visit 'squire Burdock. 1803 W. Taplin II. 486 A train scent, (that is, a drag across the country). 1819 21 Oct. 1/5 Gray Chariot-horses..either of them fit to carry 15 stone across country. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. 573 He was directed to hasten thither across the country. 1888 Mar. 565/2 The Western people..think no more of throwing down a railroad..than a conservative Easterner does of taking an unaccustomed walk across country. 1901 2 Nov. 631/1 He had to make the most arduous hot-foot journeys across the country. 1916 10 June 282 An official cut across country to the bridge on a bicycle... I tuned up the Ford a bit and beat him to the bridge, even if I did have to go four times his distance. 1986 O. Rackham xvii. 379 A fenland river deposits silt in its bed and rises above the surrounding land. Eventually it may become unstable, breach a levée, and make off across country in a new course. 2004 Oct. 40/2 I knew if I went for it across country I had a chance. society > authority > office > appointment to office > choosing or fact of being chosen for office > election of representative body by vote > [verb (intransitive)] > appeal to parliamentary electors 1791 XXX. 91 He would assert, that a more idle.., unjust clamour never existed; and he appealed to that House, and could appeal to the country at large, whether that administration had..given the world the smallest grounds to form such an idea. 1845 B. Disraeli I. i. vi. 86 What with church and corn together, and the Queen Dowager, we may go to the country with as good a cry as some other persons. 1865 H. Kingsley lix It became necessary for James Oxton to go to the country..He [sc. the Governor] dissolved the assembly and sent James Oxton to the country. 1890 12 Apr. 450/1 The cry of a ‘cheap breakfast table’ would no longer be one ‘to go to the country with’. 1950 C. P. Stacey in G. W. Brown vi. 135 In the autumn of 1917 Sir Robert Borden formed a union Government of Conservatives and conscriptionist Liberals which appealed to the country in December. 1970 P. Berton iii. vi. 143 When Mackenzie went to the country early in 1874, he was returned with a landslide. 2000 P. Thody vii. 135 Callaghan's decision not to go to the country proved fatal to the fortunes of the Labour Party. 1816 20 Apr. 136/1 The toasts drank..were very happy and appropriate... By commodore Decatur.—Our country—In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right, and always successful, right or wrong.] 1823 J. Neal I. (title page) Our country!—Right or wrong. 1838 C. Newell v. 55 The roads were thronged with citizens hurrying to the West to join the standard of their country, with the now unanimous cry, ‘My country, right or wrong!’ 1901 G. K. Chesterton 125 ‘My country, right or wrong,’ is a thing that no patriot would think of saying except in a desperate case. It is like saying, ‘My mother, drunk or sober.’ 2005 16 Apr. 53/1 I've never felt those fierce, uncomplicated sloganeering emotions like ‘My country, right or wrong’ or ‘It doesn't matter what he does, he'll always be my dad.’ Compounds C1. attributive. Compounds relating to senses A. 1 and A. 5. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > a land or country > [adjective] c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Macc. vii. 8 He answerynge in cuntree voice [L. patria voce], saide, Y shal not. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 143 Cedmon..was i-tauȝt by..God to make songes and ditee in þe contre longage [L. in lingua patria]. 1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More sig. B.iiii He chaunced to fynde certeyne of hys contrey shyppes. 1576 W. Lambarde 86 The penns of our owne countrie writers. 1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus i. xiii. 24 Offered vp in honour of their countrey gods. 1598 W. Shakespeare iv. iii. 84 To weepe Ouer his Countrey wrongs. View more context for this quotation a1625 J. Fletcher Pilgrim i. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher (1647) sig. Ggggg/1 What Country-craver are you? 1632 W. Lithgow i. 42 In Padua I..found there a Countrey Gentleman of mine. 1671 J. Dryden i. ii. 10 Talk not of our Countrie Ladies: I declare my self for the Spanish Beauties. 1675 R. Burthogge 201 Among all the Countrey Rites [L. patriis ritibus] of Religion. 1678 J. Moxon I. iii. 54 Many Workmen..commend that Countrey steel for best from whence that steel came. 1748 tr. Ovid xiii. 459 The victor Greeks do drag along Dardanian Matrons, their invidious Prey, embracing, whilst they can, the Statues of their Country Gods [L. patriorum signa Deorum]. 1760 S. Pegge Let. in (1789) Nov. 988/1 Mr. Morris, I find, is a most excellent scholar, and a perfect master of his own country language and history. 1828 29 Mar. 199/3 Lord lieutenants were always chosen by the country laws—by the good laws of Edward the Confessor. 2011 S. Zuhur iv. 165 Reduced oil incomes restricted buying in the 1990s until production cuts again improved country finances. the world > people > nations > native or inhabitant of Europe > [adjective] > not 1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 36 a The Nayres maye not take anye Countrie women, and they also doe not marrie. 1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten 371/1 The Hauen of Chaposy..hath a great Towne lying vpon it, where likewise there is a fleet of the country shippes continually kept for the security and safegard of the coast. 1619 M. Pring in S. Purchas I. 638 Master Methwold came from Messalipatam in one of the Countrey Boats. 1727 A. Hamilton II. lii. 253 When we arrived there, we found three European Ships, and a Country Ship from Surat. 1752 in R. Orme (1805) I. 211 A serjeant who spoke the country languages. 1817 T. S. Raffles I. 210 Since the conquest..a very extensive trade has been carried on by the English in country ships. 1848 J. Arnould I. i. iii. 66 Employing the vessel in what is called the country trade, that is, on intermediate voyages from one port to another in India. 1950 C. Carrington ix. 461 The first commercial voyages into the Pacific, as it appears, were made by country-ships from the East Indian ports. 1997 D. S. Linton in A. T. Embree & C. Gluck 90 Rather than monopolizing the country trade, the company encouraged both its servants and licensed free merchants to conduct intra-Asian trade on their own account. C2. attributive. Compounds relating to sense A. 3. a. 1479 in M. Sellers (1912) I. 171 Diverse and mykell bredes be baket within this same cite and called countrie breid. c1525 Vox Populi 374 in W. C. Hazlitt (1866) III. 281 I knowe not whates a clocke, But by the countre cocke. 1576 A. Fleming A j b The commendations of countrie pleasures. 1591 O. Pigg 334 If it were a little country parish, then were it no great thing to amend all. a1592 R. Greene (1594) sig. A3v How liuely in her country weedes she lookt. 1600 C. Percy in C. M. Ingleby & L. T. Smith (1879) 38 I am heere so pestred with contrie businesse. 1604 W. Shakespeare iii. ii. 111 Doe you thinke I meant country matters?.. That's a fayre thought to lye betweene maydes legs. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. i. 138 These fresh Nimphes encounter euery one In Country footing. View more context for this quotation a1617 S. Hieron Christians liue-loode in (1620) II. 49 In our countrey-worke of threshing. 1669 J. Worlidge (1681) 301 To discover to our Country-Reader these mysterious Intricacies of Nature. 1670 J. Eachard 21 To preach to ordinary People, and govern a Country-Parish. 1712 R. Steele No. 480. ⁋7 I was bred at a country-school. 1713 W. Derham Ded. sig. A2v In my Country-Privacy. 1774 Ld. Chesterfield I. 62 Enjoying the sweets of repose in a country solitude. 1780 W. Cowper 6 May (1979) I. 337 I know less of the Law than a Country Attorney. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Lady Clara Vere de Vere in (new ed.) I. 155 You thought to break a country heart For pastime, ere you went to town. 1869 R. D. Blackmore I. viii. 88 Conscious of my country-brogue. 1885 234 Country Banks in England and Wales, with their London agents. 1957 Oct. 56/2 Hotel Statler..is now offering an ‘old fashioned country breakfast’. 1987 Nov. 54/2 A two-storey ‘addition’ that consisted of a large country kitchen downstairs and two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. 2006 3 Feb. 14/1 The Trojan, an unracy make, was advertised in the Church Times in the 1920s as specially suitable for country vicars. (b) 1759 J. Townley i. i Under the Form of a gawky Country Boy I will be an Eye-witness of my Servants Behaviour. 1824 M. R. Mitford I. 204 That unpopular class of beings, country-boys. 1918 W. Cather i. xviii. 129 This was not the sort of thing country boys did when they played at fisticuffs, and Jake was furious. 2002 8 May 19/1 This eager young country boy moved to the city and took Australia by storm. 1628 G. Wither ii. 2067 Some..parted from Our City walls..so finifi'd, As if their meaning was, to shew their pride In Country Churches. 1718 No. 19. 1 A Duke is..not to be seen in a Countrey Church above once in an Age. 1858 W. M. Thackeray in Dec. 130/2 The little poor-box which one may see iron-bound and iron padlocked in all the country churches of France. 1959 W. R. Bird ii. 53 We remembered seeing many little country churches with ancient horse sheds still at the rear. 2000 July 6 Many of his subsequent country churches..have important polychromatic decorative schemes, often executed in tiles and mastic, sometimes with polished marbles as well. 1598 J. Florio Fascina, a countrie cottage, a shepheards bullie, a cabbin. 1623 H. Mandeville Let. 28 July in S. M. Kingsbury (1935) IV. 254 I..wilbe..in my country cottage fr a week or two. 1791 S. Dobson tr. Petrarch 138 Now I fear that townish villanies have crept into country cottages. 1881 C. C. Harrison iii. 183 [A] country cottage fitted up for summer occupancy. 1963 J. Korg ii. 61 Algernon..seems to have spent his life in inexpensive country cottages. 2009 J. Struthers 159 A country cottage wouldn't be the same with an electric heater on which to toast your toes. You need a roaring fire. 1635 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi 109 They entertain'd these two Knights not after the manner of countrey gentry, but with a stately grave deportment as the most accomplisht Ladies of the Court. 1764 W. Harte i. 197 That valuable set of men, the country gentry of moderate estates; who are the main support of every kingdom, and formerly abounded more in this country, than in half Europe. 1835 May 97 He imposed on the nobility and country gentry by false statements. 1956 2 Apr. 68/1 Again he fell back upon the support of the country gentry and the burgesses against the hostility or indifference of the magnates. 1993 J. C. Harsch (2010) 35 It was the kind of comfortable, nonflashy hotel that attracts what the English call ‘country gentry’. 1567 H. G. tr. G. Boccaccio i. f. 7v Vnwilling that (like a countrey girle) the loue which thou bearest hir, be without requital. 1598 W. Shakespeare i. ii. 112 I do loue, that Countrey girle . View more context for this quotation 1632 R. Brome iii. ii. sig. G4 To traine vp an innocent countrey Girle, is like hatching a Cuckoe. 1775 C. Meed Let. 28 Nov. in B. Franklin (1982) XXII. 279 I thought you would not write to A Poor Country Girle. 1882 Sept. 260/1 A country girl afraid of cows, and such placid and benignant-looking ones as these! 1900 15 12 Lacking the plumpness and color which make the country girl attractive. 2003 W. Brandt viii. 120 I thought you were a country girl. Weren't you up at sparrowfart every morning to milk the cows or something? 1804 T. Holcroft I. Descr. Plates p. xvi The gravel walks; which are so neglected, in the winter, that they..are sometimes little better than dirty country lanes. 1875 A. Trollope I. xviii. 115 The road was no more than a country lane, unfrequented at all times, and almost sure to be deserted on Sundays. 1930 C. Beaton Diary in (1979) iii. 29 The sight, at the crossroads of some five or six country lanes, of a clump of milk cans. 2011 18 Apr. 127/1 The seemingly infinite number of British series that include hatted, eccentric Englishwomen riding bicycles down country lanes to take homemade jam to the vicar. 1903 Mar. 288 The sign of the ‘Pig and Whistle’ is a fairly reasonable one for a country pub. 1943 T. Harrisson et al. (2009) ix. 271 They all arrived at a country pub..for an afternoon at bowls, tea afterwards, and then to settle down to the real business of soaking. 2004 (Compact ed.) 7 Jan. (Property section) 6/4 It doesn't seem like many people want to own a country pub these days. 1576 G. Gascoigne sig. D.ijv The country Squire, doth couet to be Knight. 1683 W. Kennett tr. Erasmus sig. d2 My thinks our Author..Wishes (if Metempsuchosis be true..) In his next life he only might aspire To the few brains of some soft Country Squire. 1711 J. Addison No. 119. ¶3 A polite Country Squire shall make you as many Bows in half an Hour, as would serve a Courtier for a Week. 1839 19 Sept. 7/6 I have seen a rich country squire in a hotel in a large town..drinking his pint. 1991 10 193 Country squires who hunted were accustomed to similar language from the M.F.H.s. 1577 W. Harrison Descr. Scotl. vi. 7/2 in R. Holinshed I Forfair was in tyme past a notable Citie, strengthened with two royall Castelles, as the ruynes do yet declare, now it is brought vnto litle more than a countrey village, replenished with simple cotages. 1652 No. 15. 95 Afterwards they landed, and did much spoil in their Countrey-Villages. 1735 J. Atkins 76 His Town..as neatly raftered and built, as most of our North or West small Country Villages. 1883 Mar. 666/1 On the right-hand side of the hall is the post office, combined with which is the usual universal shop of a country village. 1997 G. M. Brown (1998) 159 Stockbridge is a pleasant part of Edinburgh. It must have been a little country village at one time, until the expanding city crept all around it,..and engulfed it. 1592 sig. A4 It hapned at a Country wake, his mother and hee came acquainted with a precise scholler. 1636 J. Trussell in sig. B2 The countrie Wakes, and whirlings have appeer'd..like forraine pastimes. 1684 J. Dryden Prol. Univ. Oxf. in 277 Thespis, the first Professor of our Art, At Country Wakes, Sung Ballads from a Cart. 1711 E. Budgell No. 161. §2 A Country Wake. 1801 J. Strutt iv. iii. §31 Jingling match..a diversion common enough at country wakes and fairs. 1974 K. R. Farrer in D. S. L. Cardwell vi. 114 It also included a fight at a country wake. 1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione iii. sig. Hh.ii A poore Countrey wenche, that..sore a thirst entred into a house to drinke water. 1567 W. Painter II. xxii. f. 160 Certesse I am of opinion that a man may vainely consume a yeare or two in pursuite and seruyce of thys mealy Countrey wenche. 1619 sig. Dv When Country wenches play with stoole and ball. 1690 J. Locke iv. xii. 324 Cannot a Country-Wench know..that the remaining Debts..are equal? 1723 B. Mandeville Ess. Charity in (ed. 2) i. 346 Raw Ignorant Country Wenches. 1825 J. T. Brockett (at cited word) There used to be frequently, in my recollection, smock races among the young country wenches in the North. 1980 E. Jong i. ix. 68 The great fat Country Wench who preen'd and prinkt with Pride that a real Duel was going to be fought o'er her Beauty. b. Locative and parasynthetic. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabitant > inhabitant according to environment > country dweller > [adjective] > country-bred 1620 tr. G. Boccaccio II. viii. ii. 59 He darted amourous wincks and glances at her.., Loues priuate Ambassadours, which shee (being but countrey-bred) seeming by outward appearance, not to see, retorted disdainefully. 1670 J. Eachard 52 A Town-bred, or Countrey-bred Similitude. 1834 C. Brontë Let. 20 Feb. in E. C. Gaskell (1857) I. vii. 136 Too much afraid of appearing country-bred. 1999 (Nexis) 4 May (Features section) 15 Reed's second marriage to the tall, beautiful, country-bred Josephine was largely happy. 1600 T. Nashe Summer's Last Will in W. C. Hazlitt (1874) VIII. 53 Such country-button'd caps as you. 1573 T. Twyne tr. H. Llwyd f. 10 The residew stoutly inuaded, and possessed a parte of Fraunce called Armorica, sleayng, and driuyng thence the country dwellers. 1663 E. Waterhouse xxxv. 429 There is no relief for the poor Peasant and Country-dweller. 1764 R. Jones siv. Cv A filthy country dweller. 1892 2 Jan. 35 No country-dweller could be ignorant of the limits of the manor in which he dwelt. 1992 14 Aug. 4/7 For thousands of country dwellers, old fashioned fly-papers—changed frequently—are the only alternative to sharing the house with buzzing insects. 1875 R. Browning 117 That black-eyed, brown-skinned country-flavoured wench. 2010 A. Ham et al. (ed. 6) (Lonely Planet) 382/2 The cheaper rooms are nothing special, but the ones in former monks' cells simply smother you in history. Country-flavoured evening meals (residents only) cost €25. 1638 R. Brathwait (new ed.) sig. Aa3 I am now become a Drover, Countrey-liver, Countrey-lover. 1764 R. Jones sig. Cv He is a country liver or dweller. 1886 G. Hamilton in E. H. Rollins Pref. 2 Some old time country livers..may run over its pages. 1997 (Nexis) 5 June h2 Rural or country livers outlive their city counterparts by one year. 1847 5 Sept. 4/2 The Darter ran only once, at the Heath of Maryborough, where, with high odds on her, she suffered such a shameful defeat from a country trained filly. 1980 J. Childs i. 10 A reform of the country trained bands would have been costly and could not have fulfilled the king's principal purpose. 2008 (Nexis) 4 Jan. (Sports section) 3 How many other three-year-old country-trained horses won a group 1 race this year? C3. 1945 May 44 Country songs and tunes have attained such popularity in recent years that nearly every radio station broadcasts at least a few every day. 1967 28 Jan. 13/2 A dozen well-known country hits gathered together on one album..must rank as a must for the country fans who don't have these tracks elsewhere. 2009 20 Feb. 9/1 Nobody bothers about civil liberties until they've gone. As the old country song warns: ‘You don't miss your water till your well runs dry.’ 1947 16 Aug. 23 A snappy country-blues number. 1949 21 May 117/2 Bouncy, easy-going country boogie is fine for dancing, but doesn't offer much lyrically. 1963 A. Baraka (1995) xi. 173 The blues could extend in a kind of continuum from rhythm & blues all the way back to country blues. 1968 25 Aug. 5 b/1 In the world of today's music, ‘Harper Valley’ would probably be classified as ‘country pop’. 1970 2 Aug. f4/3 Country soul. In the lexicon of rock music, it's come to mean a musical journey down home, music with a western tinge. 1975 B. C. Malone & J. McCulloh in B. C. Malone 417 Traditionalists saw in country pop the death of their beloved music. 1977 7 Sept. c10 The kind of music being made up on the stage was both distinctive (country funk, I guess you'd call it) and expertly produced. 1985 May 13/1 Since then, Jason and the Scorchers have howled their way to the forefront of the musically suspect genre of country punk. 1994 D. Marsh & J. Bernard xvi. 346 He is equally adept at..country jazz. 1998 6 July 68/2 Rolling Stone has hailed it ‘a country-soul masterpiece’. 2006 R. Powers 67 Country metal exists... It's a totally recognized genre. C4. the world > matter > gas > air > fresh air > [noun] society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > types of song > [noun] > folk-song 1595 A. Copley iv. 128 So many lights haue I eaten, that I thought the open country-ayre would haue caried me quite away, and therefore did I take this loade vpon me. 1633 G. Herbert Gratefulnesse in vi These countrey-aires thy love Did take. 1717 A. Pope Leaving Town in 373 Some fond virgin, whom her mother's care Drags from the town to wholesom country air. 1787 Aug. 413/2 My eldest son..made a sign to Lubin to take down the violins. They played alternately some country airs. 1861 Earl Stanhope I. i. 42 I trust the country air will bring back her strength. 1982 6 119/1 The purest of all earthly music was confined in ancient plainsong chants and simple country airs. 2001 S. Walton (2002) v. 198 Periods of rest were interspersed with bracing walks in the country air. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. v. 20 Lads more like to run The Country base, then to commit such slaughter. View more context for this quotation 1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin iv. iv. f. 21 Them they called contrey-byshops [L. Chorepiscopos], because in the contrey they represented the Bishop. 1699 T. Gipps tr. Canons of Antioch in ii. viii. 51 Let the Country Bishop be under the Bishop of the City, to which he is Subject. 1765 A. Maclaine tr. J. L. von Mosheim I. 48 Chorepiscopi, i.e. country bishops. This order held the middle rank between bishops and presbyters. 1782 J. Priestley II. x. i. 231 In a council held at Antioch, in 341, these country bishops were forbidden to ordain priests and deacons. 2012 P. Brown xx. 337 A new style of Christian bishop emerged as a village leader... In his old age, Augustine experienced one such country bishop. It was not a happy experience for him. 1575 T. Newton tr. C. A. Curione iii. f. 90 He displaced the Inhabitauntes of the Countrey out of theyr Offices, Roomes and Dignities, and placed his owne Nation and people in the same, and amonge them (empouerishing and vtterly oppressing the Countrey borne persons). 1794 J. Blatchford (ed. 2) 21 The Princess-Royal..was now manned chiefly with lascars (country born people). 1834 Aug. 136 I am a plain man, and country-born. Until some seven or eight years since, I never heard a stave of fashionable music—par excellence. 1854 8 16 Country born Chinese have a club called Sip Gee Seeah; they elect 12 Towkays or trustees. 1973 J. G. Farrell ii. 24 It surely could not be that Louise was ‘country born’ and had thus never been to England, a condition that he had heard was much misprised in Indian society. 2010 (Nexis) 28 Mar. (Culture section) 24 The ee cummings poem Maggie and Milly and Molly and May appealed to the country-born Merchant's sense of ‘children discovering themselves through nature and solitude’. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > a house > types of house > [noun] > villa or country house > small 1722 S. Croxall tr. Æsop xlviii. 87 I should not chuse to have my little Country Box situated in the Neighbourhood of a Grandee. 1757 R. Lloyd (title) Cit's country box. 1876 R. Browning 67 Nor country-box was soul's domain! 2009 G. Foley 138 He does enjoy a bit of fishing and shooting now and then, but only if he's invited to someone else's country box. society > leisure > dancing > types of dance or dancing > country-dance or dancing > [noun] > specific country-dances 1649 No. 1. sig. A2v The Country Bumpkins in other places begin to grow wise, they are resolved to give no more Free-quarter or monthly Taxes. 1769 Jan. 4/1 At last they all joined hands and danced round him in the manner of Country Bumpkin. 1774 E. Stanhope tr. Ld. Chesterfield in Ld. Chesterfield I. 95 A country bumpkin is ashamed when he comes into good company. 1820 W. Irving II. 357 The more bashful country bumpkins hung sheepishly back. 1824 J. Mactaggart 101 Wha learn'd you to dance—A country bumpkin brawly? 1931 4 30 This dance that..formed the conclusion..of Scottish balls was known as ‘Bumpkin Brawly’ or ‘The Old Country Bumpkin’—evidently being already regarded as an old-fashioned or rustic romp. 1940 V. Bell Let. in (1993) 470 This long catalogue of people and doings doesn't give you much news of interest, I fear, but you see we are complete country bumpkins. 2012 (Nexis) 6 July 38 The shrewd country bumpkin is a staple of American myth. society > trade and finance > merchandise > [adjective] > condition or quality of goods 1766 G. Washington Let. 22 Sept. in (1990) VII. 465 How practicable it may be to distinguish Country damage from Ship damage.] 1847 Feb. 193/2 Most of the recent importations have been inferior, and very much country damaged. 1896 W. S. Taggart I. 43 Unless the bales have been lying in wet or mud before having been shipped on the railways or steamships, and have become what is known to the trade as ‘country damaged’, the quality of the article does not deteriorate. 1900 12 Oct. 2/6 Coffee.—Ecuador country-damaged. 1928 A. B. Cox 20 Deductions of one-sixth of the weight of the country-damaged cotton removed or agreed upon as existing,..and one-third of the amount deducted for sea damage are made in the settlement. the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > melancholy > [noun] > nostalgia > homesickness 1562 W. Bullein Bk. Simples f. ijv, in A yong man..whose vtward woundes were healed by an auncient practisour called Mighel a frencheman, whiche also is cunnynge to helpe his owne countrey disease, that now is to commonly knowen here in Englande. 1610 R. Vaughan sig. K4v I was..forced vnto the Irish wars, where I continued three or foure yeares some-times twist deep in that country-water: & what with long fasting and ill diet, I was possessed with the Country-disease. 1640 J. Parkinson xvii. xxxi. 1587 For when Cristophorus Colonus commonly called Columbus, first opened the West Indies to the Spaniards, they companying with the Indian women, got this familiar and naturall country disease from them. 1726 tr. J. Cavalier i. 29 I was two Months in Geneva, where..I got the Country Disease, and began to grieve after my Father and Mother. 1774 E. Long III. 662 In Doctor Trapham's time the dropsy was so endemic in Jamaica, that it went by the name of the country disease. 1894 C. Creighton II. ii. 225 The two national maladies that here concern us—the ‘country disease’ and the ‘Irish ague’. 1915 29 545/2 This insect is a country mosquito rather than an inhabitant of cities; for that reason malaria is a country disease and not a city disease. 2013 P. Lenihan in T. Pollard & I. Banks 205 The prime suspect must be bacillary dysentery, which visitors unflatteringly called the ‘country disease’. 1690 S. Mullenaux 26/2 The Watry Season would undoubtedly bring the Country Distemper on our Army, and so more dye of it than by the hand of the Enemy. 1711 J. Stevens 18 This Country-Distemper, or Yawes, is begun or continu'd with a Gonorrhæa; yet is attended with nocturnal Pains in the Limbs..and several Ulcers. 1749 W. R. Chetwood 41 (note) The Country Distempers are, the Dry-gripes, and Tenesmus, which generally ends in a Sanguinary Flux: Most New-comers, for want of a proper Regimen, fall into it. 1893 37 36 Other deaths followed in quick succession, some from scurvy and some from the ‘country distemper’, the fatal sign of which was a violent purging. 1970 44 571 One of the most troublesome diseases of Colonial America was that mysterious and debilitating malady known variously to early American physicians as ‘lame distemper’, ‘country distemper’, and yaws. 2006 O. Reiss iv. 50 Yaws, the ‘country distemper,’ was..seen most commonly in the first generation of slaves from Africa. 1569 T. Blague 79 A Great route of Towne dogs coursed sore a Country dog which ran away and durst not resist. 1607 E. Topsell 45 Their quantitie is not much bigger then a countrey Dog. 1708 E. Arwaker II. xxxiii. 140 A Country Dog , a very rustick Clown, Follow'd his Master to a Market-Town. 1816 XIV. 574/1 The people..hunt with their country-dogs, about whose necks they are obliged to hang wooden clappers, in order to follow them by the noise. 1947 R. Bedichek xxi. 276 Like a wild animal,..or like a rough-and-ready country dog, stock-herder and skunk-killer, brought as a pet to a city apartment. 2012 (Nexis) 25 July He was a country dog and couldn't have coped being cooped up in a city. the mind > possession > possessions > [noun] > real or immovable property > land > a landed property or estate 1692 C. Gildon I. xi. 67 Less still..does such a trifle as a poor Country Estate deserve Damnation. 1761 J. Ritchie 16 Besides the Goods in his Shop..he had a Country Estate, which..yielded a Rent of 11 or 1200 Merks per annum. 1836 Sept. 67 At this moment the comforts of my paternal mansion, the charms of my country estate, rose to my imagination. 1911 E. Parkinson i. 10 It should..always be borne in mind that a country estate has two distinct departments, namely the park and the farm. 1951 V. Nabokov i. 12 An alley of ornamental oak trees in the park of our country estate. 2008 Jan. 130/3 The Marquis of Bath..has a lion-infested park on his country estate. 1589 J. Lyly sig. E2v Trusse vp thy packet of flim flams, & roage to some countrey Faire. 1720 A. Smith (ed. 5) III. 177 This unhappy Criminal..became..eminent at picking of Pockets and Shop-lifting, at all Country Fairs and great Markets. 1820 Apr. 330/1 The stage doctors and mountebanks of a German country fair. 2012 7 Aug. a2/1 The food at country fairs is notorious for its calories, fat, and extreme portions. 1578 tr. J. Calvin ii. sig. C.iii She professed much more than all her countrie fellowes did. 1614 A. Gorges tr. Lucan ix. 365 Then wofull Cnæus did espy His countrey fellowes, proaching nye The Affricke coast. 1657 J. Trapp vii. 1 A plain Country-fellow. 1786 R. Burns 20 A country fellow at the pleugh, His acre's till'd, he's right eneugh. 1898 Apr. 79 He was a country fellow, clad as a peasant, and speaking such vile patois. 1992 A. Symons (2007) v. 145 A rather superior visitor, intending to take a rise from the simple country fellow, asked Will if he had seen a cart load of monkeys pass by. Will's quick reply was, ‘No, dropped off, did 'ee?’ 1856 ‘Trifle’ & ‘Editor’ vi. 54 Country-fried potatoes. 1903 25 July 4/4 He has been resting, recuperating, eating country fried chicken and drinking cool mountain water. 1993 21 Nov. 36/4 A country-fried Sammy Glick who learns the error of his ways when he is struck down at the height of his powers. 2008 (Nexis) 20 Oct. d3 The country-fried folk-rock of Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. 1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten i. xlii. 79/1 The other common people of the Malabares , called Polyas , are such as are the countrie husband men and labourers.] 1644 T. Coleman sig. A.2 Let the Towne be beholding to you for your prayers and your praises, be you..their country husbands to amend their hedges, and make up gappes where Gods wrath might breake-in. 1669 J. Worlidge (1681) 7 Let our Countrey-Husbands conclude, that Water..is an excellent Vehicle to convey the Spirit, Salt, and Sulphur that are apt for Vegetation into Vegetables. the world > food and drink > farming > farmer > [noun] > rustic or peasant society > society and the community > social class > the common people > specific classes of common people > peasant or rustic > [noun] > rude or ignorant 1845 24 May 1/1 I wonder what brought that country Jake here to gape at us. a1854 J. F. Kelly (1856) 136 You're a pooty looking country jake, you are, to advertise for a dog, and don't know Chiney Terrier from a singed possum? 1911 R. D. Saunders ix. 128 Didn't I tell you beforehand that they'd shorely size me up as a country-jake from the very beginning? 1990 G. Plimpton iii. vi. 263 I'm a country jake at heart. the world > food and drink > farming > farmer > [noun] > rustic or peasant society > society and the community > social class > the common people > specific classes of common people > peasant or rustic > [noun] > rude or ignorant 1888 19 Dec. 9/2 Thimble-rigging and other camp-meeting games are all right for the country jays, but when it comes to fighting the royal Bengal tiger right in his lair, the light-weights stand no chance of success. 1899 A. H. Quinn 45 Well, you all know what a country jay Dutch was when he came to college. 1919 E. O'Neill Rope in (1923) 28 You country jays oughter wake up and see what's goin' on. 1924 G. Ade i. 23 (stage direct.) The son is a bewildered country ‘jay’. 1606 W. Warner xv. c. 369 Many a countrie Ione, Whose fathers droue ye Dung-cart, though the daughters now will none. 1740 Lady Throckmorton in M. Delany (1861) II. 120 You'll find me as errant a country Joan as ever frequented a hen-house or dairy. 1802 M. M. Sherwood 48 You are such a dowdy, such a country Joan, no one will look upon you. 1999 Winter 65 If only Polyphemus had fallen in love with a country Joan! the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > [adjective] > homely or rustic > in appearance 1735 II. 388 She..at last pick'd up an innocent Country looking Lad. 1775 R. B. Sheridan i. ii A country-looking fellow, your worship. 1815 W. Scott II. 9 A tall, stout, country-looking man. 1996 29 Jan. 33/2 A red pickup went by with a country-looking driver. ?1576 A. Hall sig. F.iij I cannot omitte those country louers, whose memory, wel meaning writers to vs, haue sent vs, [etc.]. 1791 J. Gardnor 91 They [sc. the hermits] derive..considerable advantage..from the liberality of country lovers, who resort annually to the hermitage. 1849 16 125 Your true country-lovers are to be found in London. 1964 24 Nov. 23/3 (advt.) Location, on the edge of the University, is convenient for walkers, sports fans,..in fact almost anyone but real country lovers. 1981 24 July 17/5 Willie's film aimed at country lovers... Willie [Nelson] stars as Buck Bonham, a hard drinkin', hard livin' country singer. 2006 (Electronic ed.) Dec. 14 If you're a country lover, it's a mix between Charlie Daniels and Aerosmith. 1589 sig. Av Lordes of our land, and makers of our Lawes.., This careful, kind, and country-louing clawse..vouchsafe to take: Martine the merry, who now is Mar-prelate, Will proue madde Martine, and Martine mar-the-state. 1764 8 Aug. In this Country-loving Age..almost every Oilman quits his Counter and his greasy Commodities to breath the freeer Air of Islington or Highgate. 1901 A. Besant i. 26 The boys' ideals are moulded in this way, and they grow up country-loving, patriotic, proud of their land, and so worthy to be citizens of their country. 1996 T. Turner xix. 223/2 As a country-loving person, it was with some reluctance that I moved into London. 1757 14 May A New Negro Boy, named Oroonoko, without any Mark, except that of his Country Marks, of which, he has several in the Face. 1767 Savannah (Georgia) Gaz. 8 July in M. A. Gomez (1998) v. 103 Run away, or stolen..a Guiney fellow..has his country marks on his arms and shoulders. 1823 J. Adams ii. 94 Their [sc. the Housa's] country mark consists of very small lines cut longitudinally upon each cheek from the temples to the chin. 1825 R. Bickell i. 43 Frank, a Nago,..no brand-mark, country marks on his face. 1909 U. B. Phillips II. 89 (note) ‘Country marks’ were the scars, tattooing, boring of ears, filing of teeth, etc., by which the Africans of certain tribes were accustomed to mark their persons. 2008 L. H. Anderson (2010) xiii. 82 He carried a country mark on his face, three straight lines that had been cut into his right cheek when he became a man in Africa. a1661 T. Fuller (1662) 309 Not long since he walked to Alnwick to dinner and back again, six North-country miles.] 1717 M. Dutton vii. xvii. 233 Unless the Parish-Church of such United Parish lies 3 Country Miles distant from some part of such United Parish. 1727 H. Boulter (1769) 219 Three country miles are often five or six measured miles. 1829 F. de Kruger 63 The travelling stage had set me down Within a mile of yon church-town; 'Twas long indeed, a country mile. 1937 31 Aug. 17/2 The spectators from ten rows on back thought Farr won the championship, by a country mile. 1946 21 Jan. 4/4 There isn't any other nation in the world..which comes within a country mile of providing young bachelors like Mr. O'Neill..with $147 per month for 40 hours work. 2008 28 Apr. (London ed.) 68/1 The best game of the evening by a country mile is West Brom's clash with Southampton at The Hawthorns. 1834 Nov. 97/1 Loose rocks..many of them of the species of agglomerated quartz, familiar to the west under the name of country mill-stone. the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Rodentia or rodent > superfamily Myomorpha (mouse, rat, vole, or hamster) > [noun] > family Muridae > genus Mus or mouse > of particular form, habits, or habitat society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabitant > inhabitant according to environment > country dweller > [noun] 1553 R. Burrant in tr. (new ed.) sig. x.iiiv The countrie Mouse said. I had rather haue my poore chere at home, in saufegard & quietnesse, then to haue all these delicate dishes and sumpteous cates with soche feare. 1585 W. Bullokar tr. Æsop sig. C2 Of the townish mouc' and contry-mouc'. 1607 E. Topsell 504 The Epithets of myce are thes;..rustik, or country mouse, vrbane, or citty mouse. 1607 E. Topsell 544 The wood-Mouse is called in Greeke as the Countrey-mouse. 1750 1 No. 5. 190 An honest country mouse Kindly receiv'd, within his homely house. 1841 ‘G. Eliot’ Mar. (1954) I. 85 Letters from a Town Mouse to a Country Mouse. 1953 34 177 The 92:100 ratio for 123 country mice was derived from all other mice taken at all seasons in other parts of the island. 1997 4 Oct. (Elton John Tribute section) 12 I believe you once described the two of you together as a town mouse and a country mouse. society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > paper money > English banknotes > [noun] 1767 J. Steuart II. iv. xxiii. 234 The holders of the country notes would constantly..have recourse to the bank established in the district, for the coin wanted to be sent to London. 1797 J. Woodforde 16 Mar. (1931) V. 19 Excise Officers refuse taking Country Notes for the payment of several Duties. 1866 A. Crump ix. 203 The extinction of the country note issue. 1999 G. A. Martin in D. Ho & T. Schneeweis iv. 111 Cash transactions were hampered by the difficulty in ascertaining the fair value (or authenticity) of country notes. 1888 1 412/1 Hereafter we shall have to speak of country-parks when we wish to designate..‘lands intended and appropriated for the recreation of the people by means of their rural, sylvan and natural scenery and character’. Country parks are sometimes of small area,..but generally an area of at least fifty or one hundred acres is required to provide a natural aspect. 1966 Leisure in Countryside 6 in (Cmnd. 2928) XIII. 223 ‘Country Parks’..would make it easier for town-dwellers to enjoy their leisure in the open, without travelling too far..; they would ease the pressure on the more remote and solitary places. 1982 (Nexis) 8 Aug. xi. 23 The kayakers put their boats in the water at Cedar Beech Country Park near East Cuchogue. 2000 11 Jan. 3/4 The thieves used a hired open-backed lorry with a mechanical arm to lift the £15,000 narrow-gauge engine from its shed at Crossford Country Park, near Lanark. the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Crassulaceae (stonecrop and allies) > [noun] > stonecrop 1597 J. Gerard ii. cxxxvii. 415 The Englishmen [call this herbe] Stonecrop and Stonehore,..wall Pepper, countrey Pepper, and Iacke of the butterie. 1640 J. Parkinson vi. 735 The Wall-Pepper or country Pepper is called by the Italians Granellete and Grasola. 1728 R. Bradley at Pepper Country Pepper, in Latin, Illecebra, minor, sive sedum tertium Dioscoridis. 1804 Oct. 914/1 They [sc. people of Cayenne] make a dish which is the farine (cassava-flour) of the fish mentioned, and country pepper. 1821 S. F. Gray II. 541 Wall pepper. Stone hot. Pricket. Mouse tail. Country pepper. Jack of the buttery. Rocks and dry sandy places; perennial; June. 1893 C. Sullivan v. 33 Ackra cakes. One quart of black-eye peas. Cold water. Fresh country pepper and a little cayenne. 1967 26 May 16/4 Soup... we start with coconut milk, then throw in..crab claws..and a kind of country pepper that's so hot it blinds you. 2000 A. Dalby 151 This was perhaps C. chinense, called in the West Indies ‘country pepper’ and also native to northern South America. 1688 R. Holme iii. 293/2 The Gobler, or Country Pye, is made of large pieces of Flesh. 1837 3 Oct. Mr. Barnes came to me one day and said, ‘I dare say you can make me one of my country pies;’ I said yes, if he would tell me how. 1985 (Nexis) 29 Sept. 11 nj 26/4 Fresh-drawn cider, doughnuts and country pies will be available, and visitors will be able to choose pumpkins, too. 2010 (Nexis) 3 Nov. 4 I used my husband's traditional recipe which has been passed down through three generations making it a good, rugged country pie. 1609 R. Armin sig. Fv Good sir you are deceau'd in me, Ime country plain Without this nicetie. 1641 R. Carpenter v. vii. 245 I am Countrey-plaine, and still short. 1642 D. Rogers iii. 68 Why should a countrey plaine man, affect the neatnesse of a nice Citizen? 1756 W. Guthrie tr. Quintilian I. v. x. 355 The Fables, likewise, that go under Esop's name.., entertain and amuse the Mind, especially of Country, plain, People. 1996 L. Howard 88 Booley was a country-plain, unsophisticated good old boy, but he'd been in law enforcement for a long time. the world > food and drink > farming > farmer > [noun] > rustic or peasant > ignorant society > society and the community > social class > the common people > specific classes of common people > peasant or rustic > [noun] > rude or ignorant 1688 T. Shadwell i. 7 Puppy! Owl! Loggerhead! O silly Country Put! Here's a Prigg indeed. 1721–2 N. Amhurst No. 46. 247 They were metamorphosed into compleat smarts, and damn'd the old country putts, their fathers. a1763 W. Shenstone (1768) II. 190 An old maid, a country-put, or a college-pedant. 1823 8 92 The footmen of the House of Lords..keep clear of the borough-mongers and country puts of the lower house. 1695 J. Locke in H. R. F. Bourne (1876) II. xiii. 322 Country-selling knavery. 1754 (ed. 2) 67 I hate the Country-Selling Tribe, And curs'd be him who takes a Bribe! 1995 (Nexis) 8 Nov. The blood kept dripping on the placard covering his chest that proclaimed him to be a ‘country-selling traitor’. society > education > teaching > systematic or formal teaching > [noun] > school-teaching > period of service 1938 1 Oct. 184/1 Unless specially exempted no teacher shall be eligible to apply for a [Grade A] position..unless he has completed..three years' country service. 1963 18 July It would be a misnomer to designate the college as a country service school since Blenheim had all the amenities of any town. 1985 (Nexis) 18 Nov. To be promoted in the Queensland education system teachers have to do a great deal of country service, moving from school to school. 1990 27 June 14 The country service requirement once provided a pool of teachers who could be placed to fill the needs of rural New Zealand. 2003 (Nexis) 2 July (Education section) 19 I first taught at East Brisbane State School and was transferred to Cunnamulla State School for country service. 1883 Oct. 43/1 Now keeping to the roads awhile, Now cutting corners, country style. 1889 20 July 3/5 And now for supper; and let it be country style, girls, at this late hour of the night. 1921 22 Jan. 10/1 What is better..than a ‘side’ of spare ribs roasted to a delicate brown, with baked potatoes, a dish of slaw, made country style [etc.]. 1947 8 June iii. 6/5 Principal attractions..will be a ‘pantry’ for lovers of country style cooking. 1975 J. C. Thomas (1976) 5 The front door opened into a foyer, followed by a large living room, dining room, [and] country-style kitchen. 2013 R. Gauvreau xxi. 148 I had built an outhouse at 125 feet from the house, in the fringe of the forest. I had built it country-style. 1783 W. Marsden 152 The Jaggree or country sugar is usually made from the juice of the anou, a species of palm tree. 1872 E. Eggleston xvi. 110 A fellow don't like to eat up all his country sugar to wunst. 1996 31 3292/1 Jaggery boiled down from the nectar of the palmyra palm provides country sugar. 1588 A. Fraunce i. ii. f. 5v As well might a man say there must be two arts of Grammer..one for courtly speeche, an other for country talke. 1654 E. Gayton iv. i. 169 Dorothea having lost her Fame, Scornes to be Country talk, and peoples game. 1760 L. Sterne I. x. 35 The parson..had made himself a country-talk by a breach of all decorum. 1868 H. D. Thoreau (rev. ed.) 115 There may be nothing lofty in the sentiment, or fine in the expression, but it is careless country talk. 2011 S. P. Stamatis & P. S. Stamatis iv. 44 Panagiotis said nothing. That made Nitsa wonder whether he was so urbane that all the country talk bored him. 1635 H. G. Pref. sig. A2v A new kind of invented wickednesse, and fearefull mischiefe..is the Narration of Country Tom, and Besse of Canberry [i.e. Thomas Sherwood and Elizabeth Evans], so termed by those of their base disposition.] a1658 J. Cleveland Mid-summer Moon in (1660) 188 [He] has one property of a Scholar, poverty: you would take him for Country Tom broke loose from the Gallows. 1672 J. Dryden Prol. to Albumazar in 88 Faith if you have such Country Toms, abroad, Tis time for all true men to leave that Road. 1688 W. Scot 27 Some late start-up bran-new Gentlemen, That hardly knows from whence their Fathers came, Except from red nos'd Robin, Or Trail, Wallet, countrey Tom. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > town as opposed to country > town > [noun] > other types of town 1598 J. Florio Villaggio, a village, a borough, a hamlet, a countrie towne. 1625 C. Burges 10 If he liue in a Country Towne. 1689 S. Johnson 37 To search in Villages or Country-Towns. 1727 D. Defoe II. ii. Introd. 30 From those Barges they [sc. the coals] are loaded into Carts and Waggons, to be carried to the respective Country Towns. 1791 ‘G. Gambado’ v. 23 London Riders,..who cut..so smart a figure in a country town. ?a1828 D. Wordsworth Jrnl. Tour Continent in (1941) II. 319 A pretty mixture of rusticity, and country-town and river bustle. 1925 Dec. p. xxxviii (advt.) Mr. White, himself a country-town man, presents what he considers Coolidge's weaknesses as well as his strong points. 2007 (British Film Institute programme) 65/2 The story of a man who takes a business trip to a country town and suddenly decides to change his identity and reinvent his life. society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > folk music > [noun] > country and western 1949 12 Nov. 111/2 Competent performance of a country-Western, but the spark is missing. 1950 17 Apr. 2/5 (advt.) All the latest hits on 45 RPM records. Country Western..Popular..Classical. 1970 J. Bouton vii. 379 Larry Dierker and I much prefer the Beatles to country-western music. 1980 D. Page 159 Country-western became popular because, aside from the big band dance music, it was all that the older dancers could understand. 2013 June 39/2 The same session featured the band's attempt at Ann-Margret's ‘I Just Don't Understand’. Here, Lennon's vocal possesses an R&B swing, but the ensemble-playing is in a country-western mode. the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [adjective] > spread or diffused > widely society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > a land or country > [adjective] > throughout a country 1845 28 May 1/4 A church with a compact, country-wide, or national organization. 1896 26 Apr. 27/5 Two splendid floral fêtes, whose fame has spread countrywide. 1915 4 July 20/8 James J. Hill, famous railway man, known countrywide as the ‘Empire Builder’, has seen fit to enter the California transportation field. 1938 30 May 16/1 The demand which it was established to meet is countrywide and unfailing. 1989 (Nexis) 12 Sept. 26 Spartech..has 12 factories countrywide making rigid sheet plastic. 2007 (Nexis) 2 June 3 A dangerous paedophile pensioner who..was the subject of a country-wide manhunt. Derivatives 1547 W. Salesbury Gwladaídd, countrelyke. 1591 R. Greene sig. D4v After salutations done as countrie like as she could, and yet too courtly for his calling, she enquired of him if hee knew anie..house, where she might be entertained into seruice. c1660 J. Evelyn anno 1641 (1955) II. 71 So naturally it [sc. the park] is furnish'd with whatever may render it agreable, melancholy & Country-like. 1699 R. Bentley (new ed.) 209 Anciently..the Feast of Bacchus was transacted Country-like and merrily. 1775 R. Cumberland i. v. 12 A country-like fellow says he must be admitted to speak with you in private; he will not be kept out. 1877 21 Apr. 1/4 One rarely sees anything so country-like in the middle of a city winter. 1949 Nov. 135/1 Have you ever used an air freshener—a special product that camouflages unpleasant odors with clean countrylike scents? 2000 A. Karlen (2001) xxi. 142 Despite all these changes, there was still a rather country-like atmosphere. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  n.adj.a1300 |
