quixotic en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /kwɪɡˈzɑtɪk/ (US)
- /kwɪkˈsɒtɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /kiˈɑtɪk/ (rare)
- /kiːˈzɑtɪk/ (US)
- (US) audio
- /kwɪkˈsɑtɪk/ (US)
Etymology
Derived from Spanish Quixote, the surname of Don Quixote, the title character in the novel by Miguel de Cervantes, + -ic.
Meanings
-
Resembling or characteristic of the Spanish chivalric hero Don Quixote; possessed with or resulting from the desire to do noble and romantic deeds, without thought of realism and practicality.
The war triggered in [Miguel de] Unamuno the realization that, in hopeless times, quixotic lunacy could save people from the paralysis that often accompanies defeatism.
2017 May 29, Mariana Alessandri, “In Praise of Lost Causes”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:In the digital age, building a new library filled with old-fashioned printed books seems idealistic, almost quixotic.
2022 April 17, Stephen Burgen, “Barcelona honours Gabriel García Márquez with new library”, in The Observer, →ISSN:Olivier, as you know, was quixotic, and would not permit a secret service and spies.
1911 January 7, G[ilbert] K[eith] Chesterton, “The Sign of the Broken Sword”, in The Innocence of Father Brown, London; New York, N.Y.: Cassell and Company, published 1911, →OCLC:The message is not subliminal. […] Characters aren’t just quixotic, they cite Cervantes to one another.
2012 June 21, Alessandra Stanley, “So Sayeth the Anchorman”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
- Overly optimistic and moralistic.
-
Exceedingly idealistic.
Call it a brain freeze, another 'Aleppo moment,' or a mere campaign stumble, but Gary Johnson has stumbled again in his quixotic presidential campaign.
2016 September 29, Josh Lederman, Patrick Mairs, “Brain freeze? Gary Johnson can’t name favorite world leader”, in PBS NewsHour, Associated Press, archived from the original on 08 Mar 2018:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quixotic | alternative | lexicographic | |
| most quixotic | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| Don-Quixotic | alternative | lexicographic | |
| more quixotic | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| Don Quixotic | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Relateds
Translations (33)
de quichottisch (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · bg донкихо́товски (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · eo donkiĥota (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · hu Don Quijote-i (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · mk донкихотски (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · sv äventyrlig (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · pl donkiszocki (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · fr quichottesque (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · sv romanesk (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · tr Kişotvari (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · nl donquichotterig (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · ru донкихо́тский (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · fi quijoottinen (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · it donchisciottesco (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · es quijotesco (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · sv donquijotisk (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · rsk донкихотски (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · cs donkichotský (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · es aquijotado (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · pt quixotesco (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · de lebensfremd (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · de realitätsfern (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · tr donkişotluk (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · ca quixotesc (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · fi donquijotemainen (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · nl impulsief (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · nl wereldvreemd (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · pl donkiszotowski (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · hu Don Quijote-s (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · cs donkichotovský (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · hy դոնկիխոտյան (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · tr donkişotça (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote) · el δονκιχωτικός (Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote)