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quixotism

American  
[kwik-suh-tiz-uhm] / ˈkwɪk səˌtɪz əm /

noun

  1. (sometimes initial capital letter) quixotic character or practice.

  2. a quixotic idea or act.


Etymology

Origin of quixotism

1660–70; ( Don ) Quixote + -ism

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If I am," she replied in her rapid-fire but often imprecise English, "I would not indulge in such quixotism.

From Time Magazine Archive

His name was Graves, and he regarded what he called the judge's "quixotism" with condescending good-nature.

From The Voice of the People by Glasgow, Ellen Anderson Gholson

If that girl had designed to cast a spell upon him, she could have chosen no more potent elixir than this sublimated essence of quixotism.

From Command by McFee, William

I set out the next morning in a humor of suspicious disillusion, all my quixotism turned sour under the dry sun.

From The Professor's Mystery by Hastings, Wells

Don't let any false quixotism blind you to that, Vane.

From The Transgression of Andrew Vane a novel by Carryl, Guy Wetmore