desultory
[ des-uh l-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]
/ ˈdɛs əlˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /
adjective
lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
Nearby words
desulfur, desulfurase, desulfurate, desulfurize, desulphurize, desultory, det, det., det. in dup., detach, detachable
Origin of desultory
Related formsdes·ul·to·ri·ly, adverbdes·ul·to·ri·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples 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 Formsdesultorily, adverbdesultoriness, noun
Word 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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Word Origin and History for desultory
desultory
1580s, "skipping about," from Latin desultorius "hasty, casual, superficial," adjective form of desultor (n.) "a rider in the circus who jumps from one horse to another while they are in gallop," from desul-, stem of desilire "jump down," from de- "down" (see de-) + salire "to jump, leap" (see salient (adj.)). Sense of "irregular, without aim or method" is c.1740. Related: Desultorily; desultoriness.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper