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quixotic

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
quix·ot·ic  (kwk-stk) also quix·ot·i·cal (--kl)
adj.
1. Caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals; idealistic without regard to practicality.
2. Capricious; impulsive: "At worst his scruples must have been quixotic, not malicious" (Louis Auchincloss).

[From English Quixote, a visionary, after Don Quixote, hero of a romance by Miguel de Cervantes.]

quix·oti·cal·ly adv.
quixo·tism (kwks-tzm) n.

quixotic [kwɪkˈsɒtɪk]
adj
preoccupied with an unrealistically optimistic or chivalrous approach to life; impractically idealistic
[after Don Quixote]
quixotically  adv
quixotism  [ˈkwɪksəˌtɪzəm] n
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.quixotic - not sensible about practical matters; idealistic and unrealistic; "as quixotic as a restoration of medieval knighthood"; "a romantic disregard for money"; "a wild-eyed dream of a world state"
impractical - not practical; not workable or not given to practical matters; "refloating the ship proved impractical because of the expense"; "he is intelligent but too impractical for commercial work"; "an impractical solution"

quixotic
Translations
quixotic [kwɪkˈsɒtɪk] ADJquijotesco
quixotic [kwɪkˈsɒtɪk] adjchimérique
quixotic
adj behaviour, gesture etcedelmütig, ritterlich; idealsschwärmerisch, idealistisch; a foolish quixotic acteine Donquichotterie; don’t you find that a little quixotic?finden Sie das nicht etwas versponnen?
quixotic [kwɪkˈsɒtɪk] adj (frm) → donchisciottesco/a
quixotic [kwɪkˈsɒtɪk] adj (frm) → donchisciottesco/a


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
An author who had much to do with preparing me for the quixotic folly in point was that Thomas Babington Macaulay, who taught simplicity of diction in phrases of as "learned length and thundering sound," as any he would have had me shun, and who deplored the Latinistic English of Johnson in terms emulous of the great doctor's orotundity and ronderosity.
Well, my quixotic one, you shall tell me anything--say, as soon as we are settled in our lodging; not now.
She is ready prey to any man who knows how to play adroitly either on her affectionate ardor or her Quixotic enthusiasm; and a man stands by with that very intention in his mind--a man with no other principle than transient caprice, and who has a personal animosity towards me-- I am sure of it--an animosity which is fed by the consciousness of his ingratitude, and which he has constantly vented in ridicule of which I am as well assured as if I had heard it.
 
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