before vowels az-, word-forming element denoting the presence of nitrogen, used from late 19c. as combining form of azote (1791), the old term for "nitrogen," from Greek a- "not, without" (see a- (3)) + zoion "a living being" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live"). Azote was coined in French by Lavoisier & de Morveau because living things cannot survive in the pure gas.

"pertaining to the period of Earth's history before life appeared," 1843, with -ic + Greek azōos, from a- "not, without" (see a- (3)) + zōon "animal," here used in the sense "life" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live").

island group in the Atlantic about 800 miles west of Portugal, discovered by the Portuguese in 1492, said to be from Portuguese azor açor "a hawk, goshawk," and called for the abundance of hawks or buzzards there, but this is likely folk-etymology.

also azotaemia, "presence of excess nitrogen in the blood," 1894, from azote "nitrogen" (see azo-) + -emia "blood." Related: Azotemic.

"one of the native people who dominated the central highlands of Mexico in 1519 at the time of the Spanish invasion," 1787, from Spanish Azteca, from Nahuatl aztecatl (plural aztecah), meaning "coming from Aztlan," name of their legendary place of origin, which is usually said to lie somewhere in what is now southwestern U.S. Related: Aztecan.

"sky-blue color; pigment or paint made of powdered lapis lazuli," early 14c., from Old French azur, asur, a color name (12c.), from a false separation of Medieval Latin lazur, lazuri (as though the -l- were the French article l'), which comes from Greek lazour, from Persian lajward, from Lajward, a place in Turkestan mentioned by Marco Polo, where the stone was collected.