desultory

American  

[des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈdɛs əlˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

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.

---

desultory British  

/ 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

---

Other Word Forms

• desultorily adverb
• desultoriness noun

Etymology

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 -tory ¹

Example Sentences

The playfulness of Wohl’s style, while at times informal to the point of desultory, treats the past as an autonomous reality.

From Los Angeles Times

For one of the few exhilarating times in this desultory season, they were truly SC.

From Los Angeles Times

Last night he did an obscure X interview show and seemed desultory and depressed.

From Salon

Biden made a few desultory campaign speeches here and there.

From Salon

It was a suitably desultory ending for what has turned into a desultory caucus.

From New York Times

Related Words

• aimless
• chaotic
• erratic
• haphazard