incan
incan Lexical Profile
• adjective
Of or relating to the Inca people, their pre-Columbian empire in western South America, their culture, or their Quechuan language.
"The archaeological team marveled at the precision of the Incan stonework found high in the Andes Mountains."
• noun
A member of the Quechua-speaking indigenous people who established a vast empire in the Andean region of South America centered at Cuzco in modern-day Peru prior to the Spanish conquest.
"The Incans constructed an extensive network of mountain roads and suspension bridges to connect their empire."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'Incan' is widely used as both an adjective and a noun in general English, historians and anthropologists often prefer using the uninflected form 'Inca' (e.g., 'the Inca Empire', 'Inca architecture'). Historically, 'Inca' referred strictly to the ruling class or emperor rather than the entire subject population.
• Rhymes for incan
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from 'Inca' (via Spanish from Quechua 'inka', meaning 'ruler' or 'lord of the royal bloodline') combined with the English suffix '-n'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.