err

CEFRC1

/eː/

verb · interjection

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To make a mistake.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    to stray.

Examples

  • After all, even the gods may err at times.

  • To err is human, to forgive divine.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
3
Parts of speech
2
Citations
2

Also pronounced

  • /ɛr/

Deep Dive

interjection

Extra meaning

  1. Elongated form of er (“sound of hesitation”).

More examples

In context

  • We are liable to err.

  • He erred in his calculations, and made many mistakes.

  • Err... what did you just say?

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Even the best pilots sometimes blank during difficult landings.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

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”).