desultory

Desultory is an adjective describing something that lacks a plan, purpose, or steady course. It can refer to actions that are haphazard or aimless, as well as to speech or work that moves from topic to topic without a clear connection, often giving an impression of aimlessness or casualness.

The term comes from Latin desultorius meaning leaping about, from desilire to leap down or aside. It originally described riders who would jump from one horse to another in ancient Roman entertainment, and by extension it came to describe anything proceeding in a disconnected or rambling fashion.

In contemporary use, desultory often carries a mildly negative nuance, suggesting insufficient effort, discipline, or follow-through. It is commonly used to describe inquiries, conversations, or efforts that lack consistency or depth. Common collocations include desultory glance, desultory conversation, and desultory effort. Related words include digressive and discursive, which emphasize wandering thought, and haphazard or sporadic, which stress irregularity. Desultory can be contrasted with methodical or systematic, which imply planning and structure. Examples: “The meeting was desultory, jumping between topics without a coherent agenda,” and “Her desultory reading left her with only a rough understanding of the book.”