countrywoman
/'kʌntri,wumən/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A woman from one's own country: A female compatriot; a woman who shares the same country of origin or nationality as the speaker or a specified group.
- A woman who lives in the countryside and has rural ways: A female inhabitant of a rural area, often implying familiarity with or adherence to traditional, non-urban customs and lifestyles.
Usage Examples
Noun (compatriot):
- As a fellow expatriate, she was delighted to meet a countrywoman in the foreign city.
- The ambassador greeted the visiting delegation, which included several of her countrywomen.
Noun (rural inhabitant):
- The countrywoman knew all the local herbs and their medicinal uses.
- She was a true countrywoman, skilled in gardening and animal husbandry.
Advanced Usage
The term can be used to emphasize a shared national identity, especially in contexts of patriotism or nostalgia.
- The song evoked a deep sense of pride, speaking directly to every countrywoman living abroad.
It can describe a woman embodying the perceived virtues (e.g., simplicity, practicality, connection to nature) of rural life.
- Her straightforward advice and hardy resilience marked her as a countrywoman at heart.
Variants and Related Words
- Countryman (noun): The male equivalent, meaning either a male compatriot or a man who lives in the countryside.
- Countrywomen (plural noun): The plural form of 'countrywoman'.
- Countryfolk (noun, plural): People living in rural areas; can also refer to compatriots.
Synonyms
- Compatriot (noun): A person from one's own country. (Specific to the first meaning)
- Rural dweller (noun phrase): A person who lives in the countryside. (Specific to the second meaning)
- Provincial (noun/adjective): A person from a province or rural area; sometimes carries a connotation of being unsophisticated.
Antonyms
- Foreigner (noun): A person from a different country. (Antonym for the first meaning)
- City dweller (noun phrase) / Urbanite (noun): A person who lives in a city. (Antonym for the second meaning)
Related Phrases and Usage Notes
- The meaning is often clear from context. For example, "She felt a bond with her countrywomen" typically refers to female compatriots, while "The countrywoman brought fresh eggs to the market" clearly refers to a rural inhabitant.
- The term can sometimes be used in a slightly formal or literary register.
Noun
- a woman from your own country
- a woman who lives in the country and has country ways