Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Quixotic

Quixotic, adj. Absurdly chivalric, like Don Quixote. An insight into the beauty and excellence of this incomparable adjective is unhappily denied to him who has the misfortune to know that the gentleman's name is pronounced Ke-ho-tay.

2005 Update: Certain of one's objective, sure of the outcome and trusting to error in either.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

(See patriot.)

TLP said...

I always loved the word Quixotic. Now I see that your definition could be applied to "W." Now I'm not liking it so much.

Sar said...

The White House is really a castle in the sky.

Michael K. Willis said...

I've always had a fondness for this word...I think it is, in fact, one of the coolest words ever (regardless of my own levels of chivalrous impulse, which vary depending on mood and/or time of day :-)

Doug The Una said...

Thanks, Actonbell, I did. I hope you did as well. Boston must have a righteous Independence Day.

Weirsdo, I see patriots ever'where.

Tan Lucy, one of these days I'm going to write "Inkblot." I hate to kill your taste for a good word. It applies to a lot of people including Michael Willis and I.

Sar, or a windmill to tilt at.

Michael, delighted to see you here. I agree. Hope I haven't wrecked it.

Doug The Una said...

Oh, Actonbell I'm sorry. I knew that. Could I use the fact that I was on WiFi in the Las Vegas airport as an excuse? Sunburn? OK, I'm an idiot but I do know the difference and who's where. I read about why you stay away from Gettysburg for the fourth. Seems very wise.

dddragon said...

Ah, but fireworks over the Susquehanna are worth the traffic hassle afterwards -- usually. We were extremely lazy this year and watched fireworks on TV. Actually, I was watching "Funny Girl" and my BIL called to tell my DH to turn to watch the Macy NYC fireworks...

So I was quixotic thinking that I could actually watch an entire movie without some sort of interruption. Always hopeful, foolish me.

Doug The Una said...

Dddragon, my favorite fireworks are over the river in Iowa City. River's just add something. Way to bring in the word of the day. Thank you very much.

Unknown said...

Once the windmills have been conquered, out of that quixos comes calm

Minka said...

I am actually reading the book right now, Don Quixote. And I have to say it might very well be one of the best books I ever read...just started though.

Lila said...

Isn't it queer how few words begin with "Q"? I like words that begin with Q, as a rule.

Jamie Dawn said...

I'd love to experience some absurd chivalry.

Doug The Una said...

Karma, don't forget the damsels carried off.

Monika, I've heard it's fantastic. Which language are you reading it in?

Aral, I can't tell if you're being saucy. Either way, when I looked at the "Q"s in The Devil's Dictionary I was disappointed that there were so few. I just feel smarter making up meanings for Q-words.

Jamie Dawn, then you should head over to Michael's place. I hear he's practically giving the stuff away.

GABRIEL C. ZOLMAN said...

Quixotic, adj. One who is religious without specifics; an agnostic gnostic.

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Minka said...

I am reading it in English and am almost done...what a ride! Loved every minute of it.

Doug The Una said...

Monika, I'll have to pick that up when I finish what I'm reading now. If it's real simple I may try to read it in Spanish. Or English. If it's simple I can read it in English.

Unknown said...

One so swept away by the thrill of the ferris wheel as to not notice that the carnival is closed - and what of it?

Doug The Una said...

Glad to have you back, CA!

David Gignilliat said...

Hello,

I enjoyed your Quixotica post. I run an invented slang website Quixotica. I think you would like my word "mischromatrimony"

Check it out:

http://quixoticawords.blogspot.com