agrarian

agrarian (əˈɡrɛərɪən)

—*adj*
1.	of or relating to land or its cultivation or to systems of dividing landed property
2.	of or relating to rural or agricultural matters

—n
3.	a person who favours the redistribution of landed property

[C16: from Latin agrārius, from ager field, land]

a'grarianism

—n

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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

agrarian

1610s, "relating to the land," from M.Fr. loy agrarienne "agrarian law," from L. Lex agraria, the Roman law for the division of conquered lands, from agrarius "of the land," from ager (gen. agri) "a field," from PIE *agros (cf. Gk. agros "field," Goth. akrs, O.E. æcer "field;" see

acre). Meaning "having to do with cultivated land" first recorded 1792.

Example sentences

Its agrarian heritage is reflected in the farms lying at the city's edge, and a

beer-malting plant at the center of town.

The house's history parallels the history of an agrarian and rural society that

has faded.

The changes in culture and behavior that eventually resulted in sedentary,

agrarian societies happened over thousands of years.

Some agrotourism venues serve to encourage and protect threatened agrarian

communities in disadvantaged countries.

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Related Words

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Matching Quote

"Hamilton took as his major premise the evil nature of man and followed with the consequent need for an authoritative government in the hands of the propertied, who had a "stake in society" and therefore had most to gain or lose by government; Jefferson argued that since man is naturally well-disposed toward his fellows, all that is necessary for a good society is sufficient training and opportunity to make all men realize that their own good derives from the common good. Hamilton believed the principal duty of government was to protect private property and the sanctity of contract; Jefferson saw it as promoting the general welfare over and above any consideration of wealth.... Hamilton saw American prosperity rising through industrial capitalism; Jefferson looked with suspicion and disfavor upon mercantile activity, found it enslaving, deceitful, predatory, and contrary to man's natural desire to live free and relatively self-sufficient by the fruit of his own labors. Instead of manufacturing, he placed his hopes in an agrarian economy."

-Rod William Horton