HomeServicesBlogDictionariesContactSpanish Course
← Back to search

Meaning of quixotism | Babel Free

Noun CEFR B2
/ˈkwɪksəˌtɪzm/

Definitions

  1. Alternative letter-case form of quixotism.
    alt-of, countable, uncountable
  2. A form of idealism and delusion which leads to extravagant and absurd undertakings or sacrifices in obedience to a morbidly romantic ideal of duty or honor, as illustrated by the exploits of Don Quixote in knight-errantry.
    countable, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“M. Georges Berry, the Paris municipal councilor, has broken many a lance in tilting against old, and in some cases, time honored, abuses, and for his pains has not infrequently heard it suggested that there was a dash of Quixotism in his composition.”
“For the rest of his life, [Miguel de] Unamuno urged his fellow Spaniards to practice quixotism, which meant adopting the moral courage necessary to fight for lost causes without caring what the world thinks.”
“Berners-Lee, too, remembers the quixotism of the era. “The spirit there was very decentralized. The individual was incredibly empowered. It was all based on there being no central authority that you had to go to to ask permission,” he said.”

CEFR level

B2
Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.

See also

Learn this word in context

See quixotism used in real conversations inside our free language course.

Start Free Course