Desultory
['des(ə)lt(ə)rɪ;-z-] or ['dɛsəltɔri]
Definition
(adj.) 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' .
Checker: Melanie--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Leaping or skipping about.
(a.) Jumping, or passing, from one thing or subject to another, without order or rational connection; without logical sequence; disconnected; immethodical; aimless; as, desultory minds.
(a.) Out of course; by the way; as a digression; not connected with the subject; as, a desultory remark.
Checked by Douglas
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. Immethodical, unconnected, unsystematic, irregular, fitful, capricious, rambling, wandering, roving, discursive, cursory, slight, by fits and starts.
Checked by Conan
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Rambling, discursive, loose, unmethodical, superficial, unsettled, erratic,inexact, spasmodic, fitful, freakish, aberrant, unsystematic, cursory, roving,hasty, slight
ANT:Settled, consecutive, earnest, serious, persevering, continuous, methodical,exact, diligent, untiring, recurrent, periodical, systematic
Edited by Cary
Definition
adj. jumping from one thing to another: without rational or logical connection: rambling: hasty: loose.—adv. Des′ultorily.—n. Des′ultoriness.
Typed by Gwendolyn
Examples
- Out of this question and reply sprang a change in the chat--chat it still remained, easy, desultory, familiar gossip. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- In these desultory ramblings she passed the cottage of Susan Nunsuch, a little lower down than her grandfather's. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- What a desultory conversation! Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- But the firing was desultory. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Suddenly her expression changed from desultory enjoyment to active conjecture, and she turned to Selden with a question. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
Typed by Gwendolyn