quix·ot·ic [kwik-sot-ik] (listen to pronunciation here) (previously 06-29-13)
adjective
1. (sometimes initial capital letter) resembling or befitting Don Quixote.
2. extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable.
3. impulsive and often rashly unpredictable.
Sometimes quix·ot·i·cal .
OTHER WORDS FROM QUIXOTIC
quix·ot·i·cal·ly, adverb
half-quix·ot·ic, adjective
half-quix·ot·i·cal·ly, adverb
un·quix·ot·ic, adjective
WORDS RELATED TO QUIXOTIC
impractical, romantic, impulsive, dreamy, utopian, foolish, unrealistic, chimerical, chivalrous, dreaming, impetuous, starry-eyed, visionary
SYNONYMS FOR QUIXOTIC
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
1. fanciful, fantastic, imaginary.
ANTONYMS FOR QUIXOTIC
1. realistic, practical.
[Historical Usage]HISTORICAL USAGE OF QUIXOTIC
Miguel de Cervantes’ novel El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha ( The Ingenious Gentleman Sir Quixote of La Mancha ), or simply, in English, Don Quixote, was published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615. Full or partial translations of the first part of Don Quixote appeared in English (and French, Italian, and German) by 1612. An English translation of the second part appeared in 1620.
By 1644 Quixote was used as a common noun, that is, “a person inspired by lofty and chivalrous but impractical ideals.” The derivative adjective quixotic, which applies to both persons and actions, appears in the first half of the 18th century. Quixotic has always been ambivalent in its meaning, whether “extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary or impractical,” or “impulsive and often rashly unpredictable.”
The original 17th-century spelling that Cervantes used was Quixote, at that time pronounced kiˈshoʊ-ti (French Quichotte and Italian Chisciotte still maintain the sh- sound). In 1815 the Real Academia Española (Royal Spanish Academy) officially changed the spellings of words with x to j to match the change of the sh- sound to the modern Castilian x- sound, as in Johann Sebastian Bach (bɑx) or the Scots pronunciation of loch (lɒx).
To an American ear, the Don in Don Quixote may come across as the man’s first name, but that is certainly not the case here. In Spanish, don is used as a title of respect and as a common noun meaning “gentleman,” a most appropriate description for Cervantes’ iconic hero. Don, which ultimately derives from Latin dominus “lord, master,” is also familiar as the courtesy title of the head of a crime family or syndicate, especially the Mafia (as in Don Corleone). Don evokes courtesy and respect in England as well, where it is used colloquially at Oxbridge for a head, fellow, or tutor of a college.
Origin: 1805–15; ( Don) Quixote + -ic
[Examples from the Web]EXAMPLE SENTENCES FROM THE WEB FOR QUIXOTIC
Resolve that this can and should be the year that zero preschoolers go hungry based on your quixotic grandstanding.
15 ACHIEVABLE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS|KELLY WILLIAMS BROWN|DECEMBER 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Of course, his quixotic crusade to defund Obamacare will surely fail, but it made for some good TV.
HIGHLIGHT REEL: 11 CRAZIEST MOMENTS FROM TED CRUZ’S QUASI-FILIBUSTER|BEN JACOBS, THE DAILY BEAST VIDEO|SEPTEMBER 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In November 2007, though, Dutschke seemed to realize his campaign was quixotic.
RICIN SUSPECT J. EVERETT DUTSCHKE ARRESTED|WINSTON ROSS|APRIL 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Even after Newtown, swarms of commentators warned that Obama would be a fool to take on such a quixotic cause.
GUN CONTROL FIGHT FINALLY LAYS TO REST THE OBAMA-AS-TIMID MEME|PETER BEINART|APRIL 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Now YOU come up with a sentence (or fic? or graphic?) that best illustrates the word.