quixotism

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Quixote +‎ -ism.

Pronunciation

Noun

quixotism (countable and uncountable, plural quixotisms)

  1. 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.
    Synonym: quixotry
    Coordinate term: Panzaism
    • 1890 April 3, The New York Herald, European Edition‎:
      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.
    • 2017 May 29, Mariana Alessandri, “In Praise of Lost Causes”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:
      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.
    • 2018 July 1, Katrina Brooker, quoting Tim Berners-Lee, ““I Was Devastated”: The Man Who Created the World Wide Web Has Some Regrets”, in Vanity Fair‎:
      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.

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