desultory
/ˈdesəltərɪ/adjective
1- lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm无计划的, 无目的的; 无热情的：
a few people were left, dancing in a desultory fashion.
一些人留了下来, 随便地跳着舞。
1.1
- (of conversation or speech) going constantly from one subject to another in a half-hearted way; unfocused:（谈话, 讲话）不断变换话题的; 没有中心（或重点）的：
the desultory conversation faded.
东扯西拉的谈话慢慢停止了。
1.2
- occurring randomly or occasionally偶然发生的; 偶然出现的; 偶尔出现的：
desultory passengers were appearing.
零星的行人开始出现。
派生词
desultorily
adverbdesultoriness
noun词源
late 16th cent. (also in the literal sense skipping about)： from Latin desultorius 'superficial' （literally 'relating to a vaulter'）， from desultor 'vaulter'， from the verb desilire.