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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary des·ul·to·ry ETYMOLOGY Latin desultorius, literally, of a circus rider who leaps from horse to horse, from desilire to leap down, from de- + salire to leap — more at sally DATE 1581 1. marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose a dragged-out ordeal of…desultory shopping — Herman Wouk 2. not connected with the main subject 3. disappointing in progress, performance, or quality a desultory fifth place finish a desultory wine English Etymology 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. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 desultory des·ul·tory / 5desEltri; NAmE -tC:ri / adjective (formal)going from six thing to another, without a definite plan and without enthusiasm 漫无目的的；无条理的；随意的: I wandered about in a desultory fashion. 我漫无目的地四处游荡。 a desultory conversation 漫无边际的谈话 • des·ul·tor·ily adv. Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged des·ul·to·ry I. \ˈdesəlˌtōrē, -tȯr-, -ri also -ezə-\ adjective Etymology: Latin desultorius, from desultus (past participle of desilire to leap down, from de- + -silire, from salire to leap) + -orius -ory — more at sally 1. : lacking steadiness, fixity, regularity, or continuity : erratic , wavering, shifting < desultory whistling of trains — Edmund Wilson > < their one small cannon boomed a desultory fire to distract the attention of the Mexicans — Green Peyton > < lived for some time in regular contact with each other and in desultory contact with the surrounding larger American community — Ethel Albert > 2. : marked by lack of definite plan or method, sustained purpose, or regular persistent logical procedure or continuity : showing unsteadiness, inconsistency, or incoherence < make reading have a purpose instead of being desultory — Bertrand Russell > < already they appeared to be strangers to each other and their last conversations grew more and more desultory — Ngaio Marsh > 3. : not connected with the main subject : not cogently relevant : digressive < certain comments of a more or less desultory character seem to need making here — Samuel Alexander > Synonyms: see random II. adjective : disappointing in progress, performance, or quality < a desultory wine > < a desultory fifth place finish > |
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