Etymologically
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ruralis

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 16:03. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ruːˈraː.lɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ruˈraː.lis][1]

Forms

rūrālis (neuter rūrāle); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from rūs “countryside”, stem ⟨rūr-⟩, with the suffix -ālis.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Ammianus Marcellinus, whom he dates about 390 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant of the countryside, rural.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant rural, rustic.[5] British Medieval Latin used it of places, country people and rural church officials.[6] It was borrowed into Italian rurale and French and Spanish rural, and through Old French it gave English rural in the early 15th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 390 AD – Ammianus Marcellinus uses it.[4]
  • early 15th century – English rural is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of the countryside, rural.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press