tonalpouhqui

Classical Nahuatl

FWOTD – 4 June 2017

Etymology

From tōnalpōhua (“to divine”) +‎ -qui.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [toː.naɬˈpoːʍ.ki]

Noun

tōnalpōuhqui (animate, plural tōnalpōuhqueh)

1. A soothsayer, one who divines using signs or dreams.
   • 1555, Alonso de Molina, Aqui comienca vn vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana, f. 7v:

     Adiuinacion por ſignos oſueños nitonalpoua. […] / Adiuino deſta manera.tonalpouhqui.

     Divination using signs or dreams. nitonalpohua. […] / A diviner who divines in this way. tonalpouhqui.

   • 1555, Alonso de Molina, Aqui comienca vn vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana, f. 10r:

     Agorero que las declara. tonalpouhqui.

     A soothsayer who declares them. tonalpouhqui.

   • Idem, f. 149v. col. 1.

     Tonalpouhqui. adiuino o agorero, que echa ſuertes.

     Tonalpouhqui. a diviner or soothsayer, one who draws lots.

Synonyms

• (diviner, soothsayer): tīcitl

Related terms

• tōnalpōhualiztli
• tōnalpōhualli

References

• Alonso de Molina (2008) Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana (1571), Editorial Porrúa, page 149