quixotic
adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L339697 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /kwɪkˈsɒtɪk/ / /kwɪkˈsɑtɪk/ / /kwɪɡˈzɑtɪk/
adj
Etymology: Derived from Spanish Quixote, the surname of Don Quixote, the title character in the novel by Miguel de Cervantes, + -ic.
- 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.
“Olivier, as you know, was quixotic, and would not permit a secret service and spies.”
“The message is not subliminal. […] Characters aren’t just quixotic, they cite Cervantes to one another.”
- 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.”
noun
Etymology: Derived from Spanish Quixote, the surname of Don Quixote, the title character in the novel by Miguel de Cervantes, + -ic.
- A quixotic person or sentiment.
“The cultural quixotics attribute the change to inscrutable "cultural factors," which is tantamount to abandoning altogether the search for explanation.”