WordofTheDay.US

err

/ɜː/ verb

In Latin: errō Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about err at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. To make a mistake or be incorrect.
  2. Wander from a direct course or at random.
    The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her

Origin

From Middle English erren, from Old French errer (“to wander, err, mistake”), from Latin errō (“wander, stray, err, mistake”, verb), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ers- (“to be angry, lose one's temper”). Cognate with Old English eorre, ierre (“anger, wrath, ire”), Old English iersian (“to be angry with, rage, irritate, provoke”), Old English ierre (“wandering, gone astray, confused”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)