nagual

American  

[nah-gwahl, -wahl] / nɑˈgwɑl, -ˈwɑl /

noun

1. a guardian spirit among Mexican and Central American Indians, believed to reside in an animal.

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Other Word Forms

• nagualism noun

Etymology

Origin of nagual

< Mexican Spanish nagual, nahual < Nahuatl nāhualli

Example Sentences

“Aramés, aramás, todavía nada más, ven aquí, ven acá, aire frío, aire mío, aramés, aramás,” the nagual continued, even as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and his long ears perked up and flapped loudly.

From Literature

“Aramés, aramás, todavía nada más, ven aquí, ven acá, aire frío, aire mío, hazlas mías, cinco hermanitas, cinco estrellitas serán mías, aramés, aramás…” The nagual kept chanting different verses of the same spell, and before we knew it we were all on the ground, weakly looking at the donkey as he shifted from animal back to his human form and stood—a dark-clad figure looming tall and menacing above us.

From Literature

No longer disguised as a domesticated donkey, the nagual, dressed in a soiled black robe, was standing over a huge bubbling cauldron.

From Literature

“Well, hello. Welcome back, preciosa,” the nagual said, showing his green-gray teeth as he grinned at me.

From Literature

As he said those final words, talking about someone with an ancient sounding name—an Aztec deity perhaps, the nagual reached up to caress the collection of bones, both long and short, thick and thin, hanging from the wall behind him.

From Literature