alcaide

or al·cay·de

[ al-kahy-dee; Spanish ahl-kahy-the ]

noun

, plural al·cai·des [al-, kahy, -deez, ahl-, kahy, -, th, es].

1. a commander of a fortress.
2. a jailer; the warden of a prison.

alcaide

/ alˈkaɪðe; ælˈkeɪd /

noun

1. the commander of a fortress or castle
2. the governor of a prison

Word History and Origins

Origin of alcaide¹

First recorded in 1495–1505; from Spanish, from Arabic al-qā'id “the leader”

Word History and Origins

Origin of alcaide¹

C16: from Spanish, from Arabic al-qā'id the captain, commander, from qād to give orders

Example Sentences

Senhor, I exclaimed, you remind me of the Alcaide of Montijo, who hesitated to approach his mother-in-law until she was gloved.

From Project Gutenberg

They got another alcaide as much like the other as possible, excepting that he was not a borracho.

From Project Gutenberg

The two older towers which contained, one the chimes and the other the dwelling of the Alcaide, have quite disappeared.

From Project Gutenberg

Perdonadme, seores, deca el pobre alcaide; y yo no os ocultar nada, siquiera sea en contra mia.

From Project Gutenberg

On landing, the captain-major was received by the alcaide, with whom were many men, armed and unarmed.

From Project Gutenberg