rural

Where does the word "rural" come from? It comes from Latin ruralis, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Rural’s story begins in Latin: ruralis meant “relating to the countryside.” Relating to the countryside, from rus (the country). It reached English by 1400s as rural. Settled as the English word for anything relating to the countryside. Today, rural means relating to the countryside, as opposed to urban areas.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ruralis "relating to the countryside", relating to the countryside, from rus (the country).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s rural "relating to the countryside, as opposed to a city", settled as the English word for anything relating to the countryside.