Goryeo

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A historical kingdom located in present-day Korea known for its cultural heritage and development during the medieval period
2. An ancient East Asian dynasty that ruled from 918 to 1392, noted for advancements in art, ceramics, and Buddhism
3. A significant period in Korean history characterized by unique innovations and the establishment of a distinct national identity

Etymology: Goryeo is the romanized form of 고려 (高麗), the Korean name of a dynasty that ruled the Korean peninsula for several centuries. Its name is the source of the English word "Korea," which makes the two terms doublets: one came into English through a different route than the other, and they remain related forms of the same name. The dynasty took its name from Goguryeo, the earlier kingdom in the northern part of the peninsula that it claimed to succeed. The Chinese characters 高麗 were used to write the name, and the Western form "Korea" descends from the same root, which is why the dynasty's name and the country's name look so different on the page yet trace back to one source.

Synonyms: Koryo