definitions

errant

[ er-uh nt ]
/ ˈɛr ənt /

adjective

deviating from the regular or proper course; erring; straying.
journeying or traveling, as a medieval knight in quest of adventure; roving adventurously.
moving in an aimless or lightly changing manner: an errant breeze.

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Nearby words

erpf, err, errancy, errand, errand boy, errant, errantry, errare humanum est, errata, erratic, erratum

Origin of errant

1300–50; Middle English erraunt < Middle French, Old French errant, present participle of errer, edrer to travel < Vulgar Latin *iterāre to journey, for Late Latin itinerārī, derivative of iter, stem itiner- journey (see itinerary); confused with Middle French errant, present participle of errer to err

Related forms

Can be confused

arrant errant
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for errantly

errant

/ (ˈɛrənt) /

adjective (often postpositive)

archaic, or literary wandering in search of adventure
erring or straying from the right course or accepted standards

Derived Forms

errantly, adverb

Word Origin for errant

C14: from Old French: journeying, from Vulgar Latin iterāre (unattested), from Latin iter journey; influenced by Latin errāre to err
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012