adelantado

[ ad-l-ahn-tah-doh; Spanish ah-the-lahn-tah-thaw ]

noun,plural a·de·lan·ta·dos [ad-l-ahn-tah-dohz; Spanish ah-the-lahn-tah-thaws]. /ˌæd l ɑnˈtɑ doʊz; Spanish ˌɑ ðɛ lɑnˈtɑ ðɔs/. History/Historical.
  1. a governor of a province in Spain or of a Spanish colonial province.

  2. any of the early explorers, conquerors, or colonizers in Spanish America.

Origin of adelantado

1
1835–45, Americanism;<Spanish, noun use of past participle of adelantar to go forward, derivative of adelante in front (a- (<Latin ad-ad-) + delante before, for denante<Late Latin dē in ante)

Words Nearby adelantado

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use adelantado in a sentence

  • “I thank you, noble gentlemen,” were the words of the adelantado, as they separated for the night.

    The Lily and the Totem | William Gilmore Simms
  • But the adelantado positively refused to let the Frenchmen have his shallop or bateau.

    The Lily and the Totem | William Gilmore Simms
  • Leaving a party to guard the boats, the adelantado set off on foot with the remainder, sleeping one night on the road.

    Notable Voyagers | W.H.G. Kingston and Henry Frith
  • The cacique attempted to get loose, but was held firm in the iron grasp of the adelantado.

    Notable Voyagers | W.H.G. Kingston and Henry Frith
  • The adelantado distributed among them various trinkets, which so pleased them that they came with still more abundant supplies.

    Notable Voyagers | W.H.G. Kingston and Henry Frith