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.

Origin of desultory

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

SYNONYMS FOR desultory

1 See haphazard.

OTHER WORDS FROM desultory

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

Words nearby desultory

desulfur, desulfurase, desulfurate, desulfurize, desulphurize, desultory, det, det., det. in dup., detach, detached

Example sentences from the Web for desultorily

British Dictionary definitions for desultorily

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; haphazard a desultory thought

Derived forms of desultory

desultorily, adverb desultoriness, 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