conquistador

con·quis·ta·dor

noun \kän-ˈkēs-tə-ˌdȯr, kən- also -ˈkwis-, -ˈkis-\

plural con·quis·ta·do·res \(ˌ)kän-ˌkēs-tə-ˈdȯr-ēz, -ˈdȯr-ˌās, kən-; (ˌ)kän-ˌkwis-, -ˌkis-\ or con·quis·ta·dors

Definition of CONQUISTADOR

: one that conquers; specifically : a leader in the Spanish conquest of America and especially of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century

Origin of CONQUISTADOR

Spanish, ultimately from Latin conquirere

First Known Use: 1830

Other History Terms

agonistic, carpetbagger, enceinte, fief, historiography, paladin

Rhymes with CONQUISTADOR

air commodore, alienor, ambassador, ankylosaur, brachiosaur, conservator, convenience store, Corregidor, department store, El Salvador, esprit de corps, foot in the door, forevermore, go to bat for, have it in for, hereinbefore, hold a brief for, ichthyosaur, insectivore, legislator, mixed metaphor, national seashore, plesiosaur, revolving door, San Salvador, toreador, tyrannosaur, Ulaanbaatar

conquistador

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any of a small group of adventurers who took part in the Spanish conquest of South and Central America in the 16th century. Under Hernán Cortés a force of some 500 men with 16 horses conquered Mexico's Aztec empire. A force under Pedro de Alvarado subsequently subdued Guatemala. Francisco Pizarro defeated the Inca in Peru with 180 men and 37 horses; his companion Diego de Almagro led an expedition to Chile. Further expeditions extended Spanish rule over much of South America. Though renowned for their bravery, the conquistadores remain notorious for their avarice and the destruction they wrought on native populations and civilizations. They were soon replaced by administrators and settlers from Spain.