a member of a Nahuatl-speaking state in central Mexico that was conquered by Cortés in 1521.
2.
Also called classical Nahuatl. the variety of Nahuatl that served as the medium of Aztec civilization, aboriginally written in a chiefly pictographic script.
1780-90; < Spanishazteca < Nahuatlaztēcah, plural of aztēcatl person from Aztlān, the legendary place of origin of the Aztecs
Related forms
Aztecan, adjective
post-Aztec, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for Aztec
Aztec
/ˈæztɛk/
noun
1.
a member of a Mexican Indian people who established a great empire, centred on the valley of Mexico, that was overthrown by Cortés and his followers in the early 16th century
of, relating to, or characteristic of the Aztecs, their civilization, or their language
Word Origin
C18: from Spanish Azteca, from Nahuatl Aztecatl, from Aztlan, their traditional place of origin, literally: near the cranes, from azta cranes + tlan near
Word Origin and History for Aztec
1787, from Spanish Azteca, from Nahuatl aztecatl (plural aztecah), meaning "coming from Aztlan," name of their legendary place of origin, usually said to lie somewhere in what is now southwestern U.S.