error English · revision 4541

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=a. 1300|origins=la errare}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈer.ə/, US /ˈer.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|errour]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|error|t=mistake, flaw, defect, heresy]], errour,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|error|t=a wandering, straying; doubt; mistake]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from errāre “to wander, err”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) the source of [[err]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The usual spelling until the end of the 18th century was errour, as in Johnson's Dictionary.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The condition of erring, holding mistaken opinions: before 1300 in the OED, probably before 1300 in Barnhart, in Arthour and Merlin.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) A mistake, and an offence against morality: about 1300 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) about 1303 in Barnhart, in Mannyng's Handlyng Synne.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ False belief or heresy is from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline) and deviation from what is normal, an aberration, from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) A flaw in the making of a thing is from 1398,^(OED 1989) and in law a mistake in the proceedings of a court from 1495.^(OED 1989) The literal sense, roaming or wandering, appears in English from 1594, after Latin.^(OED 1989) In science, the difference between an observed and a true value is from 1726.^(Etymonline) Words for error in most Indo-European languages originally meant “to wander, go astray”, while Irish dearmad is from “a forgetting”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1300 – the condition of erring.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1303 – a mistake.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1398 – a flaw.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1495 – in law.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1594 – a wandering.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1726 – in measurement.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[mistake]]; an act, statement or belief that is wrong.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The state of being wrong: ''in error''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A wrongdoing or [[sin]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(mathematics, science)'' The difference between a computed or measured value and the true one.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(baseball)'' A misplay by a fielder.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[errorless]]

+ * [[errorlessly]]

+ * [[error bar]]

+ * [[probable error]]

+ * [[standard error]]

+ * [[trial and error]]

+ * [[type I error]]

+ * [[type II error]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[err]]

+ * [[errant]]

+ * [[erroneous]]

+ * [[erratic]]

+ * [[erratum]]

+ * [[aberration]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Error, mistake, oversight and offence all refer to what is not in accord with truth, accuracy or propriety; error suggests a departure from the correct path, often moral.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}