desultory
Use Desultory in a sentence
əlˌtɔr 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:
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
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
Related forms
des·ul·to·ri·ly, adverb
des·ul·to·ri·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To desultory
00:10
Desultory
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is dilettante. Does it mean:
| a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something: |
| a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, esp. in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
desultory (ˈdɛsəltərɪ, -trɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 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 |
| [C16: from Latin dēsultōrius, relating to one who vaults or jumps, hence superficial, from dēsilīre to jump down, from | |
| 'desultorily | |
| —adv | |
| 'desultoriness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
| Main Entry: | desultory1 |
| Part of Speech: | adj |
| Definition: | wavering, unsteady; erratic |
| Etymology: | Latin de- + salire 'to leap' |
| Main Entry: | desultory2 |
| Part of Speech: | adj |
| Definition: | irregular, unmethodical; inconsistent |
| Etymology: | Latin de- + salire 'to leap' |
| Main Entry: | desultory3 |
| Part of Speech: | adj |
| Definition: | random; occurring haphazardly; digressive |
| Etymology: | Latin de- + salire 'to leap' |
| Main Entry: | desultory4 |
| Part of Speech: | adj |
| Definition: | disappointing in quality or performance |
| Etymology: | Latin de- + salire 'to leap' |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
desultory
1580s, "skipping about," from L. desultorius, adj. form of desultur "hasty, casual, superficial," lit. noun meaning "a rider in the circus who jumped from one horse to another while they are in gallop," from desul-, stem of desilire "jump down," from de- "down" + salire "to jump, leap" (see
salient). Sense of "irregular" is c.1740.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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