quixotic
UK[kwɪkˈsɒtɪk]US[kwɪkˈsɑːtɪk]
adj
extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical, especially in the pursuit of lofty romantic or chivalrous goals.
Morpheme Breakdown
quixot
ic
quixot
don quixote
ic
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word is a direct eponym derived from the name of don quixote, the iconic spanish literary character created by miguel de cervantes. don quixote is famously delusional, mistaking windmills for giants and embarking on chivalrous quests based on his unrealistic ideals from old romance novels. the suffix "-ic," meaning "of or pertaining to," was added to his name to form an adjective. thus, "quixotic" literally means "resembling or pertaining to don quixote," capturing the essence of his foolishly impractical yet nobly idealistic nature.
Analysis
Structure: quixot (don quixote) + ic (adjective suffix)
quixot (from the name of the literary character Don Quixote, the protagonist of Miguel de Cervantes' 1605 novel) + ic (from latin -icus, greek -ikos, a suffix forming adjectives meaning "of, pertaining to, or resembling").
Examples
his quixotic quest to end world poverty single-handedly was admired but ultimately unsuccessful.
she had a quixotic belief that she could revive the ancient art of handwritten letters in the digital age.
the project was dismissed as a quixotic endeavor, far too ambitious given the limited resources.