Ru"ral (?), a. [F., fr. L.ruralis, fr. rus, ruris, the country. Cf. Room space, Rustic.] 1. Of or pertaining to the country, as distinguished from a city or town; living in the country; suitable for, or resembling, the country; rustic; as, rural scenes; a rural prospect.
Here is a rural fellow; . . .
He brings you figs.
Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to agriculture; as, rural economy.
Rural dean. Eccl. See under Dean. -- Rural deanery Eccl., the state, office, or residence, of a rural dean.
Syn. -- Rustic. -- Rural, Rustic. Rural refers to the country itself; as, rural scenes, prospects, delights, etc. Rustic refers to the character, condition, taste, etc., of the original inhabitans of the country, who were generally uncultivated and rude; as, rustic manners; a rustic dress; a rustic bridge; rustic architecture, etc.
We turn
To where the silver Thames first rural grows.
Thomson.
Lay bashfulness, that rustic virtue, by;
To manly confidence thy throughts apply.
Dryden.
© Webster 1913. | 
