The Collaborative International Dictionary
Rural \Ru"ral\, a. [F., fr. L. ruralis, fr. rus, ruris, the country. Cf. Room space, Rustic.]
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Of or pertaining to the country, as distinguished from a city or town; living in the country; suitable for, or resembling, the country; rustic; as, rural scenes; a rural prospect.
Here is a rural fellow; . . . He brings you figs.
--Shak. -
Of or pertaining to agriculture; as, rural economy.
Rural dean. (Eccl.) See under Dean.
Rural deanery (Eccl.), the state, office, or residence, of a rural dean.
Syn: Rustic.
Usage: Rural, Rustic. Rural refers to the country itself; as, rural scenes, prospects, delights, etc. Rustic refers to the character, condition, taste, etc., of the original inhabitants of the country, who were generally uncultivated and rude; as, rustic manners; a rustic dress; a rustic bridge; rustic architecture, etc.
We turn To where the silver Thames first rural grows.
--Thomson.Lay bashfulness, that rustic virtue, by; To manly confidence thy throughts apply.
--Dryden.