Countries

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
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              Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred. --Gen.
                                                    xxxxii. 9.
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              I might have learned this by my last exile,
              that change of countries cannot change my state.
                                                    --Stirling.
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              Many a famous realm
              And country, whereof here needs no account --Milton.
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     2. Rural regions, as opposed to a city or town.
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              As they walked, on their way into the country.
                                                    --Mark xvi. 12
                                                    (Rev. Ver. ).
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              God made the covatry, and man made the town.
                                                    --Cowper.
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              Only very great men were in the habit of dividing
              the year between town and country.    --Macaulay.
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     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.
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                  All the country in a general voice
                  Cried hate upon him.              --Shak.
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     4. (Law)
        (a) A jury, as representing the citizens of a country.
        (b) The inhabitants of the district from which a jury is
            drawn.
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     5. (Mining.) The rock through which a vein runs.
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     {Conclusion to the country}. See under {Conclusion}.
  
     {To put one's self upon the country}, or {To throw one's self
     upon the country}, to appeal to one's constituents; to stand
        trial before a jury.
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