Countries - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Country \Coun"try\ (k?n"tr?), n.; pl. Countries (-tr?z). [F. contr['e]e, LL. contrata, fr. L. contra over against, on the opposite side. Cf. Counter, adv., Contra.] 1. A tract of land; a region; the territory of an independent nation; (as distinguished from any other region, and with a personal pronoun) the region of one's birth, permanent residence, or citizenship.

Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred. --Gen. xxxxii. 9.

I might have learned this by my last exile, that change ofCountries : cannot change my state. --Stirling.

Many a famous realm And country, whereof here needs no account --Milton.

2. Rural regions, as opposed to a city or town.

As they walked, on their way into the country. --Mark xvi. 12 (Rev. Ver. ).

God made the covatry, and man made the town. --Cowper.

Only very great men were in the habit of dividing the year between town and country. --Macaulay.

3. The inhabitants or people of a state or a region; the populace; the public. Hence: (a) One's constituents. (b) The whole body of the electors of state; as, to dissolve Parliament and appeal to the country.

All the country in a general voice Cried hate upon him. --Shak.

4. (Law) (a) A jury, as representing the citizens of a country. (b) The inhabitants of the district from which a jury is drawn.

5. (Mining.) The rock through which a vein runs.

Conclusion to the country. See under Conclusion.

To put, or throw, one's self upon the country, to appeal to one's constituents; to stand trial before a jury.