<P> The name "Macedonia" is used in a number of competing or overlapping meanings to describe geographical, political and historical areas, languages and peoples in a part of south - eastern Europe . It has been a major source of political controversy since the early 20th century . The situation is complicated because different ethnic groups use different terminology for the same entity, or the same terminology for different entities, with different political connotations . </P> <P> Historically, the region has presented markedly shifting borders across the Balkan peninsula . Geographically, no single definition of its borders or the names of its subdivisions is accepted by all scholars and ethnic groups . Demographically, it is mainly inhabited by four ethnic groups, three of which self - identify as Macedonians: two, a Bulgarian and a Greek one at a regional level, while a third ethnic Macedonian one at a national level . Linguistically, the names and affiliations of languages and dialects spoken in the region are a source of controversy . Politically, the rights to the extent of the use of the name Macedonia and its derivatives has led to a diplomatic dispute between Greece and the Republic of Macedonia . Despite mediation of the United Nations, the dispute is still pending resolution since 1993, but as a result it was admitted under the provisional reference of the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", sometimes abbreviated as FYROM . </P> <P> The name Macedonia derives from the Greek Μακεδονία (Makedonía), a kingdom (later, region) named after the ancient Macedonians . Their name, Μακεδόνες (Makedónes), is cognate to the Ancient Greek adjective μακεδνός (makednós), meaning "tall, slim". It was traditionally derived from the Indo - European root * mak -, meaning' long' or' slender' (attested in Homer, and recorded by Hesychius of Alexandria as a Doric word meaning "large"), or makros (' long, large'), as well as related words in other Indo - European languages . It is commonly explained as having originally meant' the tall ones' or' highlanders' . However, according to modern research by Robert S.P. Beekes, both terms are of Pre-Greek substrate origin and cannot be explained in terms of Indo - European morphology . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Historical Macedonia </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ancient Macedon </Td> <Td> Roman Province </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Byzantine province (approximate borders) </Td> <Td> Ottoman period (approximate) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <Ul> <Li> Ancient Macedon: Approximate borders of the kingdom before its major expansion, c. 350 BC </Li> <Li> Roman province (approximate borders of maximum extent). There was also a later diocese of Macedonia . </Li> <Li> Byzantine province: situated much further east than previous and later units (approximate borders). </Li> <Li> Ottoman period: During the first four centuries of the Ottoman period, western scholars thought of Macedonia in terms of Greco - Roman geography . The Ottoman Empire did not have an administrative unit by that name . In the early 19th century, the definition of Macedonia by most scholars, approximately matched the contemporary region, with occasional variations . </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

What is the meaning of the word macedonia
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