The word "country" has its origins in the Latin word "contra," which means "against" or "opposite." From "contra," the Late Latin term "contrata" evolved, meaning "land lying opposite" or "neighboring land." This term was adopted into Old French as "contrée," which referred to a region or expanse of land. The term then entered Middle English as "contre" during the 13th century, eventually becoming "country" in Modern English. Originally, it referred to the rural parts of a region, as opposed to towns or cities, but its meaning has since expanded to indicate a nation or state as well.