Where does quixotic come from?

Its source is from the great Spanish novel "Don Quixote," whose title character is given to unrealistic schemes and great chivalry. In the middle of a recession and high unemployment, it would be quixotic to imagine that you could quit your job and find another easily.

When did quixotic become a word?

The first known use of quixotic was in 1718.

What does it mean to wax quixotic?

When the girl insists she will grow up to marry a rock star — or even something more unrealistic, like a horse — she is waxing quixotic. It's a romantic state of dreaminess that has nothing to do with reality.

Why is Don Quixote quixotic?

Don Quixote is considered by literary historians to be one of the most important books of all time, and it is often cited as the first modern novel. The character of Quixote became an archetype, and the word quixotic, used to mean the impractical pursuit of idealistic goals, entered common usage.

What is an example of quixotic?

The definition of quixotic is romantic behavior or following beliefs even though they are foolish or unreachable goals. An example of quixotic is a young man in love behaving foolishly or wildly. Of or like Don Quixote.

?? Learn English Words: QUIXOTIC - Meaning, Vocabulary with Pictures and Examples

What is the opposite of Quixotic?

Opposite of having the desire to do idealistic deeds without pragmatism. clear-eyed. clear-sighted. cautious.

Can a person be quixotic?

quixotic) is impracticality in pursuit of ideals, especially those ideals manifested by rash, lofty and romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action. It also serves to describe an idealism without regard to practicality. An impulsive person or act might be regarded as quixotic.

How did Don Quixote create the word quixotic?

Its source is from the great Spanish novel "Don Quixote," whose title character is given to unrealistic schemes and great chivalry. In the middle of a recession and high unemployment, it would be quixotic to imagine that you could quit your job and find another easily.

Why is Quixote and quixotic pronounced differently?

An old episode of BBC's QI claims that the [kee-ho-tay] pronunciation of "Quixote" is incorrect as well. "The correct pronunciation is 'Don Qui-Sh-Otay', because in the book the character speaks in old Castilian." By extension, "quixotic" should be pronounced: [kee-sho-tik].

Why is quixotic not pronounced like Quixote?

The suffix -(t)ic is English, so it would be really weird to pronounce the first part in Spanish. The better alternative is to Anglicize the entire thing. You don't really wanna try have a word pronounced in 2 languages.

What is a quondam?

Definitions of quondam. adjective. belonging to some prior time. synonyms: erstwhile, former, old, one-time, onetime, sometime past. earlier than the present time; no longer current.

Where did the term falstaffian come from?

What is the origin of Falstaffian? The adjective Falstaffian derives from Falstaff, the family name of Sir John Falstaff, a fictional character in two of Shakespeare's historical plays (Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2) and in the comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor. His death is briefly treated in Henry V.

What is the querulous?

querulous \KWAIR-yuh-lus\ adjective. 1 : habitually complaining. 2 : fretful, whining.

Where does Machiavellian come from?

Machiavellian comes from the Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527), the author of the most famous treatise on bare-knuckled politics ever published, The Prince.

Where did the word draconian come from?

Did you know? Draconian comes from Draco, the name of a 7th-century B.C. Athenian legislator who created a written code of law. Draco's code was intended to clarify existing laws, but its severity is what made it really memorable.

What is the origin of Panglossian?

What is the origin of Panglossian? Panglossian, “extremely optimistic, especially in the face of unrelieved hardship or adversity,” comes from Dr. Pangloss (Panglosse in French), an old, incurably optimistic tutor in Voltaire's philosophical satire Candide.

How do you use quixotic in a sentence?

When was Don Quixote written?

This episode in Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote, first published in 1605, is the most comically iconic scene in the novel and often the only thing that springs to mind when thinking about it.

How long is Don Quixote book?

Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote is one of those books that everybody has heard of but almost nobody has read. Of course, it is more than 1,000 pages long, not to mention being very old.

What does it mean to call someone a Don Quixote?

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Don Quix·ote /ˌdɒn ˈkwɪksət, -kɪˈhəʊti $ ˌdɑːn-, -ˈhoʊti/ noun someone who is determined to change what is wrong, but who does it in a way that is silly or not practical.

Is quixotic a synonym to pragmatic?

Quixotic is an antonym for pragmatic, and murky is an antonym for clear.

What is quixotic synonym?

Some common synonyms of quixotic are chimerical, fanciful, fantastic, imaginary, and visionary.