saltatory

[sal-tuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

adjective

1. pertaining to or adapted for saltation.

2. proceeding by abrupt movements.

Other Word Forms

• unsaltatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of saltatory¹

1615–25; < Latin saltātōrius, equivalent to saltā ( re ) to dance + -tōrius -tory ¹

Example Sentences

I make saltatory gyrations to shunt obnoxious hangers-on, when lo! enter crocodile, without introduction, his room better than his company.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

For they certainly did on that eventful evening, and I feel called upon to enter my solemn protest against these nocturnal architectural saltatory exhibitions, as unworthy the dignity of the Empire City.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

I regret the strong language used in the preceding chapter, for since it was penned I have become a firm believer in ghosts, "spheres," saltatory furniture, and the other doctrines of professed Spiritualists.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

From our frankly biological point of view there seems considerable warrant for the suggestion that Man arose as a saltatory or transilient variation or "sport" in a gregarious Simian stock, which was not too hard-pressed by a struggle for subsistence either as regards food or climate, which was not too severely menaced by ever-persecuting stronger foes, which lived in conditions implying some measure of temporary isolation, in-breeding, and daily "brain-stretching" education.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

They are especially remarkable for their saltatory powers, due to the great development of the hind legs, which are much longer than the others and have stout and powerful thighs, and also for their stridulation, which is not always an attribute of the male only.

Read more on Project Gutenberg