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| adj. 1. Moving or changing from one thing to another; disconnected: “She had suddenly begun speaking, after sitting silently through several hours of desultory discussion ... about the Resistance” (Adam Nossiter). 2. Occurring randomly or sporadically. See Synonyms at chance. [Latin dēsultōrius, leaping, from dēsultor, a leaper, from dēsultus, past participle of dēsilīre, to leap down : dē-, de- + salīre, to jump; see sel- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] des′ul·tori·ly adv. desul·to′ri·ness n. |
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