Rusticizing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Transforming a place or object to have a countryside or simple appearance and feel
2. Altering something to give it a quaint, rural charm or an unpolished, natural look
3. Changing the character or style of something to resemble or recall the qualities of rural life and simplicity

Etymology: "Rusticizing" is the present participle of "rusticize," which combines "rustic," from Latin "rusticus" meaning "of the country," with the verb-forming suffix "-ize," from Greek "-izein." The root sense is plainly agricultural: Latin "rusticus" was tied to "rus," the countryside, as opposed to the town. Over centuries English "rustic" came to describe a simple, unpolished quality as well as a rural origin. The suffix does most of the work here. "-ize" turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning "to make into" or "to give the character of," so "rusticize" means to make something rural or plain in character. The participle form, with its "-ing," carries that action into the ongoing process of transforming a place or object so that it takes on a countryside look and feel.

Synonyms: ruralizing, countryfying

Antonyms: urbanizing, cosmopolitanizing