Rural \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.

Usage: 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 inhabitants 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)