quixotic

WOTD – 28 November 2006    

English

Etymology

The surname of Don Quixote, the titular character in the novel by Miguel Cervantes, + -ic

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /kwɪkˈsɒtɪk/, X-SAMPA: /kwIk"sQtIk/
• (US) IPA: /kwɪkˈsɑtɪk/, /kwɪɡˈzɑtɪk/, X-SAMPA: /kwIg"zAtIk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

  Rhymes: -ɒtɪk

Adjective

quixotic (comparative more quixotic, superlative most quixotic)

1. Possessing or acting with the desire to do noble and romantic deeds, without thought of realism and practicality.
2. Impulsive.
3. Like Don Quixote; romantic to extravagance; absurdly chivalric; apt to be deluded.

Usage notes

Although the term is derived from the name of the character, Don Quixote, the x is fully pronounced; the x in Don Quixote, by contrast, is pronounced more as an h.

Derived terms

• quixotically

Translations

possessing or acting with the desire to do noble and romantic deeds, without thought of realism and practicality

• Catalan: quixotesc (ca)
• Dutch: wereldvreemd (nl),donquichotterig (nl),impulsief (nl)
• French: quichottesque (fr)
• German: quichottisch (de)

• Italian: donchisciottesco (it)
• Russian: донкихотский (ru) (donkixótskij) 
• Spanish: quijotesco (es)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

• Hebrew: כדון קישוט

• Vietnamese: hào hiệp viển vông