village
UK: ˈvɪlɪdʒ | US: ˈvɪlɪdʒ
n. a small community or group of houses in a rural area, typically smaller than a town
n. (in some countries) the smallest unit of local government
The word "village" traces back to Latin villa (a country house or farm), which evolved into Old French village (a group of houses). The suffix -age (from Latin -aticum) was added to denote a place or collective state. Over time, the term shifted from referring to a single estate to a small rural settlement, reflecting the social and agricultural organization of medieval Europe.
The quiet village was surrounded by fields of wheat.
She grew up in a coastal village with fewer than 200 residents.
The village elected a new mayor last year.
Modern infrastructure has slowly reached even the most remote villages.
The artist painted a charming scene of the village square.