Cityless

/ˈsɪtiləs/ adjective

Definition

Without cities; not having cities; devoid of urban areas or urban characteristics.

Etymology

From city with the suffix -less (Old English -leas, from Old Norse los, meaning 'without,' 'lacking'). A simple negation pattern used throughout English to indicate absence.

Kelly Says

Before about 5,000 years ago, every place was 'cityless,' and even now most of Earth's surface is—the word reminds us that civilization with cities is actually the unusual state for human settlement, not the natural one.

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