different between variable vs desultory

English

Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English in the 14th century from Old French variable, from Latin variare (“to change”), from varius (“different, various”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?v???.i.?.bl?/
• (US, Mary–marry–merry distinction) IPA^(key): /?væ?.i.?.bl?/
• (US, Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /?v??.i.?.bl?/

Adjective

variable (comparative more variable, superlative most variable)

1. Able to vary or be varied.

2. Likely to vary.
3. Marked by diversity or difference.
4. (mathematics) Having no fixed quantitative value.
5. (biology) Tending to deviate from a normal or recognized type.

Synonyms

• (able to vary): alterable, flexible, changeable, mutable; see also Thesaurus:mutable
• (likely to vary): fickle, fluctuating, inconstant, shifting, unstable, unsteady; see also Thesaurus:unsteady or Thesaurus:changeable
• (marked by diversity or difference): varying; see also Thesaurus:heterogeneous
• (biology: tending to deviate from a normal or recognized type): aberrant

Antonyms

• (able to vary): constant, invariable, immutable, unalterable, unchangeable; see also Thesaurus:immutable
• (likely to vary): constant, invariable, immutable, unchangeable see also Thesaurus:steady or Thesaurus:changeless
• (marked by diversity or difference): unchanging; see also Thesaurus:homogeneous
• (mathematics: having no fixed quantitative value): constant, invariable

Derived terms

• variability
• variableness

Translations

Noun

variable (plural variables)

1. Something that is variable.
2. Something whose value may be dictated or discovered.

3. (mathematics) A quantity that may assume any one of a set of values.
4. (mathematics) A symbol representing a variable.
5. (programming) A named memory location in which a program can store intermediate results and from which it can read them.
6. (astronomy) A variable star.
7. (nautical) A shifting wind, or one that varies in force.
8. (nautical, in the plural) Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind belts.

Synonyms

• (something that is variable): changeable
• (something whose value may be dictated or discovered): parameter
• (mathematics: a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values): variable quantity; see also Thesaurus:variable

Antonyms

• (something that is variable): constant, invariable

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Related terms

• variable star

Translations

See also

• argument
• variate

Further reading

• variable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• variable in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• variable at OneLook Dictionary Search

Asturian

Etymology

From Latin vari?bilis.

Adjective

variable (epicene, plural variables)

1. variable (able to vary)
2. variable (likely to vary)

Noun

variable f (plural variables)

1. (mathematics) variable (a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values)

Related terms

• variación
• variar

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin vari?bilis.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic) IPA^(key): /v?.?i?a.bl?/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /b?.?i?a.bl?/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /va.?i?a.ble/

Adjective

variable (masculine and feminine plural variables)

1. variable (able to vary)

   Antonym: invariable

2. variable (likely to vary)

   Antonym: invariable

3. (mathematics) variable (having no fixed quantitative value)

Derived terms

• invariable
• variabilitat
• variablement

Noun

variable f (plural variables)

1. variable (something that is variable)
2. (mathematics) variable (a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values)

Related terms

• invariable
• variació
• variar

Further reading

• “variable” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “variable” in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana.
• “variable” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “variable” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Danish

Adjective

variable

1. plural and definite singular attributive of variabel

Noun

variable

1. indefinite plural of variabel

French

Etymology

From Latin variabilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /va.?jabl/

Adjective

variable (plural variables)

1. variable

   Antonym: invariable

Derived terms

• variablement

Noun

variable f (plural variables)

1. variable

Derived terms

• variable de classe

Related terms

• variation
• varier

Further reading

• “variable” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• balivera

Galician

Alternative forms

• variábel

Etymology

From Latin vari?bilis.

Adjective

variable m or f (plural variables)

1. variable, changeable

Antonyms

• invariable

Noun

variable f (plural variables)

1. variable

Related terms

• variación
• variar

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

variable

1. definite singular of variabel
2. plural of variabel

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

variable

1. definite singular of variabel
2. plural of variabel

Spanish

Adjective

variable (plural variables)

1. variable

Noun

variable f (plural variables)

1. variable

Derived terms

• variable dependiente
• variable independiente

Swedish

Adjective

variable

1. absolute definite natural masculine form of variabel.

Anagrams

• variabel

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