desultory

[ des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]
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adjective
  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.

  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.

Origin of desultory

1
1575–85; <Latin dēsultōrius pertaining to a dēsultor (a circus rider who jumps from one horse to another), equivalent to dēsul-, variant stem of dēsilīre to jump down (dē-de- + -silīre, combining form of salīre to leap) + -tōrius-tory1

Other words from desultory

  • des·ul·to·ri·ly, adverb
  • des·ul·to·ri·ness, noun

Words Nearby desultory

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How to use desultory in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for desultory

desultory

/ (ˈdɛsəltərɪ, -trɪ) /


adjective
  1. passing or jumping from one thing to another, esp in a fitful way; unmethodical; disconnected

  2. occurring in a random or incidental way; haphazard: a desultory thought

Origin of desultory

1
C16: from Latin dēsultōrius, relating to one who vaults or jumps, hence superficial, from dēsilīre to jump down, from de- + salīre to jump

Derived forms of desultory

  • desultorily, adverb
  • desultoriness, noun

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