country
country
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling for "country":
/ˈkʌn.tri/
Syllable Breakdown:
coun-: /ˈkʌn/
-try: /tri/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: country
Plural Noun: countries
Adjective: country (as in "country music," "country roads")
Adverb: (Not a direct adverb form, but "in the country" or "country-style" can function adverbially)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A distinct political state or nation, typically with its own government, laws, and territory.
Synonyms: nation, state, land, realm, commonwealth
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for "country" as a political entity, but one could consider concepts like "international waters" or "stateless region" in a very broad sense.)
Example: France is a beautiful European country with a rich history.
Rural areas and landscapes, often characterized by open spaces, farms, and natural scenery, as opposed to towns and cities.
Synonyms: countryside, rural area, farmland, outback (informal, specific to Australia), boondocks (informal)
Antonyms: city, town, urban area, metropolis
Adjective
Relating to or characteristic of the countryside or rural areas; rustic.
Synonyms: rural, rustic, pastoral, agrarian, bucolic
Antonyms: urban, city, metropolitan
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him. The hallway smelt of boiled cabbage and old rag mats. At one end of it a coloured poster, too large for indoor display, had been tacked to the wall. It depicted simply an enormous face, more than a metre wide: the face of a man of about forty-five, with a heavy black moustache and ruggedly handsome features. Winston made for the stairs. It was no use trying the lift. Even at the best of times it was seldom working, and at present the electric current was cut off during daylight hours. It was part of the economy drive in preparation for Hate Week. The flat was on the seventh floor, and Winston, who was thirty-nine and had a varicose ulcer above his right ankle, went slowly, resting several times on the way. On each landing, opposite the lift-shaft, the poster with the enormous face gazed from the wall. It was one of those pictures which are so contrive that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption beneath it ran." (George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, June 1949) - Here, "country" refers to the political state or nation.
"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." (Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina, January 1878) - In a broader sense, "country" might be discussed in the context of the socio-political backdrop of the characters' lives within the novel.
Newspapers:
"The rising cost of living is a major concern across the country, with households struggling to afford basic necessities." (The Guardian)
"Farmers in the country are reporting an excellent harvest this year, thanks to favorable weather conditions." (The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"Travel restrictions imposed by many countries during the pandemic significantly impacted global tourism." (CNN Travel) - "Countries" here denotes sovereign states.
"Exploring the vast country roads of Tuscany offers breathtaking views and a taste of local life." (Lonely Planet) - This use refers to the rural landscape.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music: "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (John Denver, 1971) - "Country Roads" refers to roads in rural areas. "Country music" is a genre of music often associated with rural themes.
Television Series: "Yellowstone" (Paramount+, 2018-present) - The series is set on a large ranch, frequently showcasing the "country" lifestyle and landscape of Montana.
Film: "No Country for Old Men" (2007) - The title uses "country" to evoke a sense of place, a specific region, and its moral landscape.
Video Games: "Red Dead Redemption 2" (Rockstar Games, October 2018) - The game's open world environment extensively features "country" settings, including vast wilderness, small towns, and rural settlements.
General Public Discourse:
"We need to come together as a country to address these challenges." (Common political rhetoric, ongoing) - Refers to the nation as a whole.
"I prefer spending my weekends out in the country, away from the hustle and bustle of the city." (Everyday conversation, ongoing) - Refers to rural areas.
10 Quotes Using Country
"My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." (John F. Kennedy)
"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." (Nathan Hale)
"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." (Mark Twain)
"The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion." (Thomas Paine)
"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever." (Thomas Jefferson)
"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his." (George S. Patton)
"Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world." (Louis Pasteur)
"Where liberty is, there is my country." (Benjamin Franklin)
"This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it." (Abraham Lincoln)
"A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor — such is my idea of happiness." (Leo Tolstoy)
Etymology
The word "country" comes from the Old French word contre, which meant "region," "land," or "district." This, in turn, came from the Latin phrase terra contrata, meaning "land spread out opposite" or "land lying opposite."
Essentially, the word's earliest meaning in English, appearing around the 13th century, was quite broad, referring to a specific region, district, or an entire land area, often in contrast to a town or city. It didn't initially carry the strong political sense of "nation-state" that it often does today. Think of it as simply a "stretch of land" or a "region."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Country
Go to the country: To leave urban areas and reside in a rural location, often for relaxation or a quieter life.
Back country: A remote, sparsely populated rural area.
Country mile: A very long distance (informal).
Country bumpkin: A naive or unsophisticated person from a rural area (often derogatory).
Old country: A term used by immigrants to refer to their native land or country of origin.
God's country: A place considered especially beautiful, peaceful, or prosperous.
Man and boy (or woman and girl) and country: Referring to someone who has known a place or situation throughout their entire life.
Familiarity with the lay of the country: To have a good understanding of a particular situation, area, or set of circumstances.
To sing one's own country's praises: To speak highly of one's own nation or homeland.
To put one's country first: To prioritize the interests and well-being of one's nation above personal gain.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of country from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
