conquistador

[ kon-kwis-tuh-dawr, kong-; Spanish kawng-kees-tah-thawr ]
See synonyms for conquistador on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural con·quis·ta·dors, Spanish con·quis·ta·do·res [kawng-kees-tah-thaw-res]. /kɔŋˌkis tɑˈðɔ rɛs/.
  1. one of the Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century.

Origin of conquistador

1
1540–50; <Spanish equivalent to conquist(ar) to conquer (see conquest) + -ador-ator

Words Nearby conquistador

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

How to use conquistador in a sentence

  • Hernán Cortés -- an unpleasant conquistador -- hated the Mexican Hairless, and attempted to eradicate the breed.

    In Praise of the Mexican Hairless Dog | Noah Kristula-Green | February 14, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • That fine old conquistador was now worn out in body and a wreck of his former self.

    South America | W. H. Koebel
  • As he wheeled about he was once more the social conquistador, seeking, the girl knew not what advantage.

    Gypsy Flight | Roy J. Snell
  • I had read with eagerness the History of the Conquest, and of the adventures of the noble conquistador.

    Mexico and its Religion | Robert A. Wilson
  • The conquistador's bones repose in the land which, with so much intrepidity and ruthlessness, he won for Spain.

    Southern Spain | A.F. Calvert
  • The companions-in-arms of Jaime el conquistador are nearly always represented wearing a considerable weight of plate armour.

    Spanish Arms and Armour | Albert F. Calvert

British Dictionary definitions for conquistador

conquistador

/ (kɒnˈkwɪstəˌdɔː, Spanish konkistaˈðor) /


nounplural -dors or -dores (Spanish -ˈðores)
  1. an adventurer or conqueror, esp one of the Spanish conquerors of the New World in the 16th century

Origin of conquistador

1
C19: from Spanish, from conquistar to conquer; see conquest

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012