- Illyria
- ancient country on the northeast shore of the Adriatic in modern Croatia; the name is of obscure origin.
- lyric (n.)
- "a lyric poem," 1580s, from Middle French lyrique "short poem expressing personal emotion," from Latin lyricus "of or for the lyre," from Greek lyrikos "singing to the lyre," from lyra (see lyre). Meaning "words of a popular song" is first recorded 1876. Related: lyrics.
- lyrical (adj.)
- 1580s, from lyric (n.) + -al (1). Related: Lyrically.
- lyricism (n.)
- 1760, from lyric + -ism.
- lyricist (n.)
- 1832, "one skilled in lyric composition;" from lyric + -ist. Meaning "one who writes lyrics" is from 1908.