rusticity

noun

rus·​tic·​i·​ty ˌrəˈstisətē 

-ətē, 

-i

plural -es

1

: a lack of ease or refinement : awkwardness of manner : gaucherie

any little rusticity of gait or pronunciation … was so quickly and completely lost

—Samuel Butler †1902

2

: gracelessness of language : failure to reveal polish or elegance

had the rusticity of the average freshman theme

3

: a lack of perception or knowledge : ignorance, stupidity

was ashamed of my own rusticity in that distinguished company

4

: the quality or state of being rustic

the rusticity of … country towns

—American Guide Series: Indiana

Word History

Etymology

Middle French rusticité, from Latin rusticus + Middle French -ité -ity

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Rhymes for rusticity

• basicity
• chronicity
• complicity
• cyclicity
• duplicity
• ethnicity
• facticity
• felicity
• helicity
• plasticity
• publicity
• simplicity