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Glite Dictionary
Cortes

Cortes

6 7.2
Spanish soldier and leader who defeats the Aztecs and takes over Mexico
  • proper noun
  • /ˈkɔrˌtɛs/
translation icon : Cortés
  • In 1519, Cortes conquered the Aztec Empire, assisted by Amerindians under the Aztec domain.
  • Hernán Cortes
  • Cortes conquered Mexico

Examples

  • At this moment, a second Spanish expedition, sent by the Governor of Cuba, an enemy of Cortes, arrived on the coast.

    Academic text (1992)

  • In 1519, Hernan Cortes sailed to the New World with a few hundred men.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Leaving a contingent of soldiers behind, Cortes went to meet it.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • We all know the Aztecs ruled all of Mexico before Cortes conquered them in 1533.

    Straight A's (2013)

  • In 1519, Cortes led a small army to Mexico, aiming to conquer the powerful Aztec Empire.

  • The actions of Cortes in Mexico significantly changed the course of history for the indigenous people.

  • Many historians study Cortes to understand the impact of European colonization in the Americas.

Synonyms

Hernan Cortes
vsCortes
6.7

A Spanish soldier who led the expedition that conquered the Aztec Empire

is the form using the standard short surname rather than alternate spelling
Hernando Cortes
vsCortes
6.6

A Spanish soldier who led the conquest of the Aztec Empire in Mexico

is the version with the short surname form instead of alternate spellings
Hernan Cortez
vsCortes
6.7

A Spanish soldier and explorer who led the conquest of the Aztec Empire

is the more common surname spelling instead of the alternate form
Hernando Cortez
vsCortes
7.2

A Spanish leader known for defeating the Aztec Empire and making Mexico part of Spain

is the more common surname spelling instead of the alternate form

Compounds

Sea of Cortes
5.5

A gulf between Mexico and the Baja California peninsula with many sea animals

Surface Forms

Cortes main

Etymology

Cortes is a Spanish family name from cortés, which means 'courteous' or 'of the court'. Think of the English word court — this helps you remember that the name once described someone who lived or worked at a ruler's court, and so became a surname.