hinterland

hinter·land (hin′tər land′)

noun

the land or district behind that bordering on a coast or river; specif., an inland region claimed by the state that owns the coast
an area far from big cities and towns; backcountry

Etymology: Ger < hinter, back (see hinder) + land, land

Converse of object

surround: The area is characterized by a predominantly rural environment with historic market towns forming the focus for the surrounding rural hinterland.
serve: Wadebridge was historically a port which served a hinterland which had no river transport.
explore: Those wishing to explore the hinterland would do best to stay in the NW.
have: In contrast, the district has a large rural hinterland with many attractive villages.
discover: You can start and end at the seaside, but you can also discover the hinterland and even stop over for a night.

Converse of subject

surround: The world population is increasingly isolated in urban centers surrounded by hinterlands drained of the resources these centers demand.

Adjective modifier

mountainous: We continue our journey through the interesting and often mountainous hinterland of Tanzania.
rural: Maldon's was also the major market for a large rural hinterland.
immediate: Links with the immediate hinterland may be made to negotiate about sectarian attack.
agricultural: There was also a large agricultural hinterland supplying food for the city population.
vast: Ross Galloway then made a welcome return from the vast lawless hinterlands of East Lothian.
remote: London, for instance, divides into eight, and even remote Welsh hinterlands like Gwynedd, are catered for.

Modifies a noun

village: Many Papuans live in hinterland villages with allegiance to their clans rather than a sense of nationhood.
area: Some immediate hinterland areas, however, are below maximum high water ( e.g.
town: This paper has attempted to provide a brief sample of the archeological research potential of a Campanian hinterland town.

Noun used with modifier

trade: The grocers ' trade hinterland was, again, more restricted than that of the mercers ( Fig.

Possessives

city: Given the pastoral bias of the city's immediate hinterland, the most important area of specialization was leather manufacture in almost every branch.
town: The language is also extensively used in the town's hinterland.

Preposition: of

town: The hinterland of the town has become a residential belt lying astride the A 78 trunk road.
village: They can provide a key focus for their surrounding hinterland of villages and hamlets.

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