| 释义 |
Quixote, n.|ˈkwɪksət|
Also 7 -ot, 8 -iot, 9 -otte.
[The name of the hero of Cervantes' romance (see Don n.1 c), = Sp. quixote, now written quijote (kiˈxote) a cuisse.]
An enthusiastic visionary person like Don Quixote, inspired by lofty and chivalrous but false or unrealizable ideals.
1648Merc. Prag. No. 1. A ij, The Romance's and Gazetta's of the famous Victories and Exploits of the godly Quixots. a1658Cleveland Gen. Poems, etc. (1677) 112 Thus the Quixots of this Age fight with the Windmils of their own heads. 1786–7Bonnycastle Astron. i. 17 There are Quixotes and pedants in every profession. 1811Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 164 What these Quixottes are clamoring for. 1896Spectator 7 Mar. 337/1 Where the more sober thinker fails, the Quixote is often of service.
Comb.1800E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. IV. 41 Quixote⁓like, going to fight when he had no occasion.
b. attrib. passing into adj. = quixotic.
1708Ozell tr. Boileau's Lutrin iv. (1730) 209 A weak Defence for Quixiot kings. 1757Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to C'tess Bute 7 July, The Quixote reputation of redressing wrongs. 1782H. Walpole Lett. to M. Cole 14 Feb. (1846) VI. 160 My diet-drink is not all of so Quixote a disposition. 1810Bentham Packing (1821) 198 Our Quixote Sheriff.
Hence ˈQuixote v. intr. (also with it), to act like a Quixote.
1702Vanbrugh False Friend v. i, When you..are upon your rantipole adventures, you shall Quixot it by your self for Lopez. 1803J. Porter Thaddeus (1826) I. vi. 131, I will not be the first to tell him of our quixoting. |