different between quixotic vs idealist

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

English

Etymology

From French idéaliste, from Late Latin idealis (“ideal”), from Latin idea (“idea”).

Pronunciation

Noun

idealist (plural idealists)

1. (philosophy) One who adheres to idealism.
2. Someone whose conduct stems from idealism rather than from practicality.
3. An unrealistic or impractical visionary.

Derived terms

• idealistic
• idealistically

Related terms

• idea
• idealism

Translations

References

• idealist in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• idealist in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Albanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [id?ja?list]

Noun

idealist m (indefinite plural idealistë, definite singular idealisti, definite plural idealistët)

1. idealist

Related terms

• ideal
• idealizëm

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French idéaliste.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?i.de?.a??l?st/
• Hyphenation: ide?a?list
• Rhymes: -?st

Noun

idealist m (plural idealisten, feminine idealiste)

1. An idealist.

Derived terms

• idealistisch

Related terms

• idealisme

Romanian

Etymology

From French idéaliste.

Adjective

idealist m or n (feminine singular idealist?, masculine plural ideali?ti, feminine and neuter plural idealiste)

1. idealistic

Declension

Related terms

• ideal
• idealism

Serbo-Croatian

Alternative forms

• ideàlista

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ide?list/
• Hyphenation: i?de?a?list

Noun

ideàlist m (Cyrillic spelling ?????????)

1. idealist

Declension

Related terms

• idealìzam, ideàlistkinja

Turkish

Etymology

Borrowed from French idéaliste.

Adjective

idealist

1. idealistic

Synonyms

• ülkücü

Noun

idealist

1. (philosophy) idealist