Word: desultory (adjective)

Associations

The word "desultory" describes something that is done without a clear plan, purpose, or enthusiasm. It often means random, unfocused, or disconnected actions or thoughts.

• "He made a desultory attempt to clean his room." — This means his cleaning was half-hearted and not well planned.
• "The conversation was desultory, jumping from one topic to another without connection." — The talk was random and lacked focus.
• "She took a desultory walk around the park, not really going anywhere specific." — The walk was aimless and without purpose.

A synonym is "random," but "desultory" often suggests a lack of effort or interest, while "random" just means without a pattern. For example, a random selection can be careful but unpredictable, while desultory actions are careless or lazy.

Substitution

Instead of "desultory," you can use:

• aimless (focus on lack of direction)
• casual (less serious or planned)
• haphazard (without order or plan)
• random (without pattern, but less emotional) Each word changes the tone slightly. "Desultory" often implies laziness or lack of enthusiasm.

Deconstruction

"Desultory" comes from Latin "desultorius," meaning "jumping about." It originally described a circus rider who jumps from one horse to another. The root "de-" means "down from," and "sult-" comes from "saltare," meaning "to jump." So it literally means "jumping down," which fits the idea of jumping from one thing to another without focus.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you did something in a desultory way? How did it feel?
• How is "desultory" different from being "focused" or "determined"?
• In what situations might a desultory approach be acceptable or even good? When is it bad?