desultory
[ des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]
/ ˈdɛs əlˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /
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adjective
lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
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Origin of desultory
OTHER WORDS FROM desultory
des·ul·to·ri·ly, adverbdes·ul·to·ri·ness, nounWords nearby desultory
desulfur, desulfurase, desulfurate, desulfurize, desulphurize, desultory, Desyrel, DET, detach, detached, detached retina
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for desultory
British Dictionary definitions for desultory
desultory
/ (ˈdɛsəltərɪ, -trɪ) /
adjective
passing or jumping from one thing to another, esp in a fitful way; unmethodical; disconnected
occurring in a random or incidental way; haphazarda desultory thought
Derived forms of desultory
desultorily, adverbdesultoriness, nounWord Origin for desultory
C16: from Latin dēsultōrius, relating to one who vaults or jumps, hence superficial, from dēsilīre to jump down, from de- + salīre to jump
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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