noun
Quixote
KWIHK-suht
noun
1
A person who is idealistic and chivalrous to the point of being impractical.
"He was a modern quixote, forever chasing hopeless causes."
How to Use Quixote
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone whose noble intentions outrun what is actually achievable.
Common mistake
The adjective form "quixotic" is far more common in everyday speech than this noun.
Easily confused with
quixotic
Word Forms
Quixotes plural
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He was a modern _____, forever chasing hopeless causes.
Etymology
Named after Don Quixote, the idealistic knight-errant hero of Miguel de Cervantes's 17th-century novel.