ˈcountry-ˈside
1. A side (e.g. east or west side) of a country, one side of a river-valley, of a hill-range, etc.; hence a district, region, or tract of country having a kind of natural unity; = country 2. Orig. Sc. (and perh. northern Eng.); now a favourite word of descriptive writers.
| [1621 Cade Serm. 16 A terrour and a plague to the towne and side of a countrey where he dwels.] 1727 P. Walker Remark. Pass. 173 (Jam.) Mr. Guthry continued until the 1664, and then was obliged to leave that country-side. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxii, It made nae sma' noise in the country-side. 1857 Hughes Tom Brown i. ii, At the revels and pastimes of the country-side. 1882 L. Oliphant Haifa (1887) 7 The most notorious thieves..in the whole country-side. 1885 F. Caddy Footsteps J. d' Arc 23 The country-side in these north-western Vosges teems with memories of Jeanne. |
2. The inhabitants of a tract of country.
| 1840 Barham Ingol. Leg., Jackd. Rheims 124 He long lived the pride of that country side. 1879 Jefferies Wild Life in S.C. 105 All the countryside is sure to be there [at the Fair]. |
3. attrib.
| 1863 Mrs. Toogood Yorks. Dial., 'Twill mak' a bonnie country-side talk. 1887 Spectator 1 Oct. 1303 Without reproof from the priest or rebuke from country-side opinion. |