desultory

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈdɛsəlˌtɔri/ UK /ˈdɛsəltəri/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
lacking a plan or purpose; passing aimlessly from one thing to another

They made desultory conversation while waiting for the train.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · lacking a plan or purpose;... aimless haphazard random unmethodical erratic disconnected cursory

Opposites

methodical systematic purposeful focused

Word family

Derived forms desultorilydesultoriness

Related forms assail result saltation

Etymology

From Latin desultorius ('hasty, superficial', literally 'of a vaulter'), from desultor ('a leaper, circus rider who jumps between horses'), from desilire ('to leap down'), from de- + salire ('to leap').

desultorius Latin salire Latin *sel- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# desultory

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈdɛsəlˌtɔri/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdɛsəltəri/

## Meanings
1. lacking a plan or purpose; passing aimlessly from one thing to another

## Examples
- They made desultory conversation while waiting for the train.

## Synonyms
- aimless
- haphazard
- random
- unmethodical
- erratic
- disconnected
- cursory

## Antonyms
- methodical
- systematic
- purposeful
- focused

## Derived Forms
- desultorily
- desultoriness

## Related Forms
- assail
- result
- saltation

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: desultorius
- Root: salire
- Root: *sel-

## Etymology
From Latin desultorius ('hasty, superficial', literally 'of a vaulter'), from desultor ('a leaper, circus rider who jumps between horses'), from desilire ('to leap down'), from de- + salire ('to leap').

## AI Etymology
Desultory comes from Latin desultorius ('hasty, superficial', literally 'of a vaulter'), from desultor ('a leaper, circus rider who jumps between horses'), from desilire ('to leap down'), from de- + salire ('to leap'). The etymological trail includes Latin desultorius, Latin salire, and Proto-Indo-European *sel-. As an adjective, desultory describes what is lacking a plan or purpose; passing aimlessly from one thing to another. The same family is visible in derived forms such as desultorily and desultoriness and related forms such as assail, result, and saltation. The analysis is partly morphological, with the modern form built from the elements named in the history.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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desultory

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