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Quixotic vs Rectitude - What's the difference?

quixotic | rectitude |

As an adjective quixotic

is possessing or acting with the desire to do noble and romantic deeds, without thought of realism and practicality; exceedingly idealistic.

As a noun rectitude is

straightness; the state or quality of having a constant direction and not being crooked or bent.

quixotic

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Possessing or acting with the desire to do noble and romantic deeds, without thought of realism and practicality; exceedingly idealistic.
  • Impulsive.
  • Like ; 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 ().

    Derived terms

    * quixotically

    rectitude

    Noun

  • Straightness; the state or quality of having a constant direction and not being crooked or bent.
  • * 2010 , (Christopher Hitchens), Hitch-22 , Atlantic 2011, p. 98:
  • A consciousness of rectitude can be a terrible thing, and in those days I didn't just think that I was right: I thought that “we” (our group of International Socialists in particular) were being damn well proved right.
  • Conformity to the rules prescribed for moral conduct; (moral) uprightness, virtue.
  • * 1776 , , et al.'', ''Declaration of Independence , 4 Jul.:
  • We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be Free and Independent States.

    Quotations

    *

    Synonyms

    * (rightness of principle) honesty, integrity, morality

    References

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    Anagrams

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