cursorily

To do something cursorily means to do it quickly and without paying much attention to details—like skimming a book instead of reading it carefully. Imagine a doctor examining a patient cursorily; they are checking the basics but not doing a deep check. The word comes from Latin roots connected to running, hinting at speed over thoroughness. You might cursorily glance at a painting in a museum before moving on to the next one, or cursorily review a document without fully absorbing its contents. It often implies a lack of care or commitment.

The word cursorily describes an action performed swiftly and superficially—with haste but lacking thoroughness or attention to detail. It suggests something is done in a perfunctory manner, just enough to get it over with. The origin lies in the Latin word cursor, meaning "runner," which evokes the idea of rushing through something without pausing for careful consideration.

You might cursorily examine a report before a meeting, getting the gist but not delving into the specifics. A detective might cursorily search a room if they believe it's unimportant to the case. It's important to note that acting cursorily isn't necessarily negative; sometimes a quick overview is all that's needed. However, it often implies a lack of dedication or thoroughness—perhaps someone cursorily cleaned their room before guests arrived, hiding clutter rather than truly tidying up.

The context usually reveals whether the speed is acceptable or indicates negligence. A surgeon wouldn't perform an operation cursorily, but a librarian might cursorily scan returned books to check for major damage. It's a useful word when you want to emphasize that something was done quickly and without much care, leaving room for potential errors or omissions.