different between naive vs quixotic

English

Alternative forms

• naïve

Etymology

Borrowed from French naïve, from Latin nativus (“native, natural”). Doublet of native.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /na??i?v/, /n???i?v/
• Rhymes: -i?v

Adjective

naive (comparative more naive, superlative most naive)

1. Lacking worldly experience, wisdom, or judgement; unsophisticated.
2. Not having been exposed to something.
   • 2011, Lila Miller, Kate Hurley, Infectious Disease Management in Animal Shelters

     Animals entering shelters are either (a) immunologically naïve and susceptible to infection and development of disease if exposed to pathogens; (b) already immune […]

3. (of art) Produced in a simple, childlike style, deliberately rejecting sophisticated techniques.
4. (computing) Intuitive; designed to follow the way ordinary people approach a problem.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:naive

Antonyms

• See also Thesaurus:naive

Derived terms

Related terms

• naif
• naïf

Translations

Noun

naive (plural naives)

1. A naive person; a greenhorn.

Anagrams

• avine, naevi, navie, nævi

Danish

Adjective

naive

1. inflection of naiv:
   1. definite singular
   2. plural

Esperanto

Etymology

From naiva +? -e.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /na?ive/
• Hyphenation: na?i?ve
• Rhymes: -ive

Adverb

naive

1. naively

German

Pronunciation

Adjective

naive

1. inflection of naiv:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

naive

1. definite singular/plural of naiv

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

naive

1. definite singular/plural of naiv

Swedish

Adjective

naive

1. absolute definite natural masculine form of naiv.

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kw?k?s?t?k/
• (US) IPA^(key): /kw?k?s?t?k/, /kw???z?t?k/, /ki??z?t?k/
• (rare) IPA^(key): /ki??t?k/
• Rhymes: -?t?k

Adjective

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.

Usage notes

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/).

Derived terms

• quixotically

Translations