des·ul·to·ry / ˈdesəlˌtôrē/ • adj. lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm: a few people were left, dancing in a desultory fashion. ∎  (of conversation or speech) going constantly from one subject to another in a halfhearted way; unfocused: the desultory conversation faded. ∎  occurring randomly or occasionally: desultory passengers were appearing.DERIVATIVES: des·ul·to·ri·ly / -ˌtôrəlē/ adv.des·ul·to·ri·ness n.

desultory shifting from one place or thing to another XVI; disconnected and irregular XVIII. — L. dēsultōrius pert. to a vaulter, superficial, f. dēsultor, f. dēsult-, pp. stem of dēsilīre leap down, f. DE- 1 + salīre leap; see -ORY.