different between arbitrary vs desultory

English

Etymology

From Middle English arbitrarie, Latin arbitr?rius (“arbitrary, uncertain”), from arbiter (“witness, on-looker, listener, judge, overseer”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???.b?.t??.?i/, /???.b?.t?i/
• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /???.b?.t??(?).?i/

Adjective

arbitrary (comparative more arbitrary, superlative most arbitrary)

1. (usually of a decision) Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.

2. Determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed.
   • 1937/1938, Albert Einstein, letter to Max Born

   • 1906, Gelett Burgess, Are You a Bromide?

3. (mathematics) Any, out of all that are possible.

4. Determined by independent arbiter.
5. (linguistics) Not representative or symbolic; not iconic.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

arbitrary (plural arbitraries)

1. Anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee.

Further reading

• arbitrary in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• arbitrary in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• arbitrariness on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

English

Etymology

From Latin d?sult?rius (“hasty, casual, superficial”), from d?sult?r (“a circus rider who jumped from one galloping horse to another”), from d?sili? (“jump down”), from d? (“down”) + sali? (“jump, leap”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d?s.?l.t(?).?i/, /?d?z.?l.t(?).?i/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?d?s.?l?t??.i/, /?d?z.?l?t??.i/
• ,

Adjective

desultory (comparative more desultory, superlative most desultory)

1. Jumping, or passing, from one thing or subject to another, without order, planning, or rational connection; lacking logical sequence.

   Synonyms: disconnected, unmethodical, aimless, quodlibetic, (in conversation) quodlibetical

2. Out of course; by the way; not connected with the subject.

3. Disappointing in performance or progress.
4. (obsolete) Leaping, skipping or flitting about, generally in a random or unsteady manner.

Derived terms

• desultorily

Related terms

• salient

Translations

Further reading

• desultory in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

References

Anagrams

• Stroudley