quixotic
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Derived from Spanish Quixote, the surname of Don Quixote, the title character in the novel by Miguel de Cervantes, + -ic.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /kwɪkˈsɒtɪk/
- (US) IPA(key): /kwɪkˈsɑtɪk/, /kwɪɡˈzɑtɪk/, /kiːˈzɑtɪk/
- (rare) IPA(key): /kiˈɑtɪk/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɒtɪk
Adjective edit
quixotic (comparative more quixotic, superlative most quixotic)
- 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; exceedingly idealistic.
- 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:
- Olivier, as you know, was quixotic, and would not permit a secret service and spies.
Usage notes edit
- Although the term is derived from the name of the character Don Quixote, the letters ⟨qu⟩ and ⟨x⟩ are both read as is usual for English spelling (/kw/ and /ks/), possibly due to analogy with exotic. In Don Quixote, by contrast, the pronunciation more closely resembles the modern Spanish (/k/ and /h~x/).
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
Resembling or characteristic of Don Quixote
|
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
|
Noun edit
quixotic (plural quixotics)