Ru'ral, a.

a. [Fr., Pr., Sp., & Pg. rural, It. rurale, Lat. ruralis, from rus, ruris, the country.] 1. Pertaining or belonging to the country, as distinguished from a city or town; suiting the country, or resembling it; rustic; as, rural scenes; a rural prospect. Here is a rural fellow. Shak. 2. Pertaining to farming or agriculture; as, rural economy. Rural dean (Eccl.), an ecclesiastic who had the care and inspection of a deanery, or subdivision of an archdeanery, under the direction of the bishop. The office has, to a great extent, fallen into disuse. Hook. — Rural deanery, the state, office, or jurisdiction of a rural dean. Syn. — Rustic. — RURAL, RUSTIC. Rural refers to the country itself; as, rural scenes, prospects, delights, &c. Rustic refers to the character, condition, taste, &c., of the original inhabitants of the country, who were generally uncultivated and rude; as, rustic manners, a rustic dress, a rustic bridge, &c. We turn To where the silver Thames first rural grows. Thomson. Lay bashfulness, that rustic virtue, by; To manly confidence thy thoughts apply. Dryden.