suburbia

noun

Etymology: PIE word *upó From suburb + -ia (suffix forming abstract nouns, the names of collections of things, etc.), perhaps modelled after Latin suburbia (“suburbs”), the plural of suburbium.

1. The suburbs as a whole and all that characterizes or pertains to them; (sometimes derogatory) the suburbs as encapsulated or represented by the typical characteristics or qualities of the people living there, especially complacency, conformity, conservativeness, dullness, etc.

   “The Germanic nations, in their invasions of Italy, introduced the appellation [borgo] into that country, where it was generally applied to the houses and streets built outside the gates of a walled town, corresponding to the Roman suburbia.”

   “The suburban establishments became more numerous, and in some instances the policy of following the central houses in the selection of entertainment was abandoned for that of enterprise, with the result that several plays originally produced in the outlying districts were deemed good enough for transference to mid theatrical London. […] The opportunities of aspiring dramatic authors being augmented, it is quite possible that in time Suburbia will become altogether independent of the Strand.”