English [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

Borrowed from Spanish Quixote, the surname of Don Quixote, the titular character in the novel by Miguel de Cervantes, +‎ -ic.

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Adjective [ edit ]

quixotic (comparative more quixotic, superlative most quixotic)

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

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 ]

Translations [ edit ]

possessing or acting with the desire to do noble and romantic deeds, without thought of realism and practicality Armenian: դոնկիխոտյան ( donkixotyan )

Catalan: quixotesc

Czech: donkichotský donkichotovský

Dutch: wereldvreemd (nl) donquichotterig impulsief (nl)

Esperanto: donkiĥota

French: quichottesque

German: quichottisch lebensfremd (de) Italian: donchisciottesco (it)

Portuguese: quixotesco

Russian: донкихо́тский (ru) ( donkixótskij )

Spanish: quijotesco (es) aquijotado m

Swedish: donquijotisk (sv) överspänd (sv) romanesk (sv) äventyrlig (sv)