cursory

[kur-suh-ree]

adjective

going rapidly over something, without noticing details; hasty; superficial: a cursory glance at a newspaper article.

Origin of cursory

1595–1605; < Late Latin cursōrius running, equivalent to Latin cur(rere) to run + -sōrius, for -tōrius -tory¹; cf. course

Related formscur·so·ri·ly, adverbcur·so·ri·ness, noun

Synonyms for cursory

quick, brief, passing, haphazard.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for cursorily

Historical Examples of cursorily

The wide domain of science can be but cursorily touched upon.
A Book for All Readers
Ainsworth Rand Spofford
Cursorily, the district leader let his gaze wander about the apartment.
Final Weapon
Everett B. Cole
The women looked at her, not curiously, or with compassion or disgust, but cursorily.
Nights in London
Thomas Burke
I must cursorily observe, that the main circumstance which struck me in this detachment, was the extreme youth of the major part.
Travels through the South of France and the Interior of Provinces of Provence and Languedoc in the Years 1807 and 1808
Lt-Col. Pinkney
All these difficulties are well known, therefore I refer to them only cursorily.
The Jewish State
Theodor Herzl

British Dictionary definitions for cursorily

cursory

adjective

hasty and usually superficial; quicka cursory check

Derived Formscursorily, adverbcursoriness, noun

Word Origin for cursory

C17: from Late Latin cursōrius of running, from Latin cursus a course, from currere to run

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cursorily

cursory

adj.

c.1600, from Middle French cursoire "rapid," from Late Latin cursorius "hasty, of a race or running," from Latin curs-, past participle stem of currere "to run" (see current (adj.)).