err
/ɛɚ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.39 in modern English
3
Scrabble Score
3
Letters
1
Syllables
2
Unique Chars
Meaning
intj
Elongated form of er (“sound of hesitation”).
Example Sentences
- "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.”"
- "To err is human, to forgive, divine."
- "Err... what did you just say?"
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”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɛɚ/
- British English: /ɜː/