Aztec

Etymology

From Spanish azteca, from Nahuatl aztēcah, plural of aztēcatl (“inhabitant of Aztlan”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈæztɛk/

Noun

Aztec (plural Aztecs or Aztec)

1. A Mexica.
   • 1994, Diego Durán, Doris Heyden (translator), The History of the Indies of New Spain:

     The lords of Tlatelolco were greatly angered over this and said, one to another, "These Aztecs believe that we are of an alien lineage. Do they not know that we are Aztecs like them[?]

     (= los señores de Tlatelulco, recibieron mucho enojo y pesadumbre, y dixeron entre sí mesmos: estos mexicanos imaginan que nosotros somos de diferente generacion quellos; no saben que somo mexicanos) [1867 edition]

2. A Nahua.
   • 1989, Elizabeth Hill Boone, Incarnations of the Aztec Supernatural: The Image of Huitzilopochtli in Mexico and Europe:

     Although united culturally, the Aztecs thought of themselves in terms of their particular tribal affiliations: as Mexica, Tetzcoca, Culhua, Tepaneca, etc.

Proper noun

Aztec

1. The Nahuatl language.
2. A city in New Mexico, USA, and the county seat of San Juan County.

Adjective

Aztec (comparative more Aztec, superlative most Aztec)

1. Of or pertaining to the Mexica people.
2. Of or pertaining to the Nahuas.
3. Of or pertaining to the Nahuatl language.

Derived terms

• Aztecan
• Aztec Empire
• Aztec Triple Alliance