adj. in, of, or suggesting the country (opp. URBAN); pastoral or agricultural (in rural seclusion; a rural constituency). rural dean see DEAN(1). rural district Brit. hist. a group of country parishes governed by an elected council. ruralism n. ruralist n. rurality n. ruralize v. (also -ise). ruralization n. rurally adv.
[ ME f. OF rural or LL ruralis f. rus ruris the country ]