quixotic

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

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kwɪkˈsɒtɪk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /kwɪkˈsɑtɪk/, /kwɪɡˈzɑtɪk/, /kiːˈzɑtɪk/
• (rare) IPA^(key): /kiˈɑtɪk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒtɪk

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; exceedingly idealistic.
2. Impulsive.
3. Like Don Quixote; romantic to extravagance; absurdly chivalric; apt to be deluded.

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/).

• quixotically