rural
UK: ˈrʊərəl | US: ˈrʊrəl
adj. relating to the countryside or agriculture
adj. characteristic of rural life; rustic
rural = rur<countryside> + al<adjective suffix>
- rur<countryside>: From Latin rūs (genitive rūris), meaning "open land, countryside."
- al<adjective suffix>: A suffix forming adjectives, derived from Latin -ālis, indicating relation or pertaining to.
Etymology Origin:
The word rural traces back to Latin rūrālis, which combines rūs (countryside) with the adjectival suffix -ālis. The core concept of rūs reflects agrarian societies' focus on open land and farming. Over time, rural evolved in Middle English (via Old French rural) to describe anything pertaining to the countryside, contrasting with urban environments. The suffix -al systematically converts nouns into adjectives, preserving the word’s logical structure.
She prefers the quiet, rural lifestyle over city living.
The government plans to improve rural infrastructure.
Rural areas often face challenges in healthcare access.
The painting depicts a serene rural landscape.
His research focuses on rural economic development.