desultory
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des·ul·to·ry
(dĕs′əl-tôr′ē, dĕz′-)adj.
1. Moving or jumping from one thing to another; disconnected: "She had suddenly begun speaking, after sitting silently through several hours of desultory discussion ... about the Resistance" (Adam Nossiter).
2. Occurring randomly or sporadically. See Synonyms at chance.
[Latin dēsultōrius, leaping, from dēsultor, a leaper, from dēsultus, past participle of dēsilīre, to leap down : dē-, de- + salīre, to jump; see sel- in Indo-European roots.]
des′ul·to′ri·ly adv.
des′ul·to′ri·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
desultory
(ˈdɛsəltərɪ; -trɪ)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 de- + salīre to jump]
ˈdesultorily adv
ˈdesultoriness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
des•ul•to•ry
(ˈdɛs əlˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i)adj.
1. lacking in consistency, method, purpose, or visible order; disconnected: desultory conversation.
2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject: a desultory remark.
[1575–85; < Latin dēsultōrius pertaining to a dēsultor (a circus rider who jumps from one horse to another), derivative of dēsul-, variant s. of dēsilīre to jump down]
des′ul•to`ri•ly, adv.
des′ul•to`ri•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Adj. | 1. | desultory - marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another; "desultory thoughts"; "the desultory conversation characteristic of cocktail parties" purposeless - not evidencing any purpose or goal |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
desultory
adjective random, vague, irregular, loose, rambling, inconsistent, erratic, disconnected, haphazard, cursory, aimless, off and on, fitful, spasmodic, discursive, unsystematic, inconstant, maundering, unmethodical We made some desultory conversation while we waited for the bus.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
desultory
adjective1. Without aim, purpose, or intent:
2. Having no particular pattern, purpose, organization, or structure:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
nesouvislýroztěkaný
bezładnychaotycznynieporządny
desultory
[ˈdesəltərɪ] (frm) ADJ [way of working etc] → poco metódico; [applause] → poco entusiasta; [gunfire] → intermitente, esporádicothey made desultory conversation → entablaron sin ganas una conversación
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
desultory
[ˈdɛsəltəri] adj (= not sustained) [reading, conversation] → décousu(e); [effort] → peu soutenu(e); [contact] → irrégulier/ièrein a desultory fashion (= not energetically) → à tout hasard
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
desultory
adj reading → flüchtig; manner, approach, attempt → halbherzig; firing → vereinzelt, sporadisch; applause → schwach; to have a desultory conversation → eine zwanglose Unterhaltung führen; in (a) desultory fashion → halbherzig
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
desultory
[ˈdɛs/əlt/ərɪ] (frm) adj (conversation) → sconnesso/a; (reading) → disordinato/a; (contact) → saltuario/a, irregolareCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995