err

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points: 3
Words With Friends: 3
Letters: 3

Pronunciation

/ɜː/

See all 8 pronunciations

/ɜː/ · /ɛɚ/(US) · /ɝ/(US) · /ɛr/ · /øː/ · /eː/ · /ɛː/ · /ɜː(ɹ)/

Definition of err

4 senses · 2 parts of speech · etymology included

verb

(formal, intransitive)To make a mistake.

“He erred in his calculations, and made many mistakes.”
“Artificial tests, then, can hardly err on the side of supplying too many opportunities for one bird to see another perform the act which is the model.”
“Gorbachev’s phrase, “fear to err,” is strikingly reminiscent of President Roosevelt’s phrase, “nothing to fear but fear itself.””

See all 4 definitions

verb

(formal, intransitive)To make a mistake.

“He erred in his calculations, and made many mistakes.”
“Artificial tests, then, can hardly err on the side of supplying too many opportunities for one bird to see another perform the act which is the model.”
“Gorbachev’s phrase, “fear to err,” is strikingly reminiscent of President Roosevelt’s phrase, “nothing to fear but fear itself.””
(intransitive)To sin.

“To err is human, to forgive, divine.”
(archaic)to stray.

intj

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

“Err... what did you just say?”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

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”).