errant

/'erənt/

Thân thiện

A gentle, errant breeze rustles the leaves of the old oak tree.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Straying from the proper course or accepted standards: Describes something or someone that deviates from what is right, correct, or expected.
   • Moving about aimlessly or irregularly: Describes motion that is uncontrolled, wandering, or unpredictable.

Usage

• The primary use of "errant" is as an adjective to describe a person, thing, or action that is wrong, mistaken, or wandering.
• It often carries a formal or literary tone.

Examples

• Describing a person's behavior:
  • The teacher sought to guide the errant student back to the right path.
• Describing unpredictable motion:
  • An errant golf ball flew over the fence and into the neighbor's yard.
• Describing something that has gone astray:
  • She searched the room for the errant document.

Advanced Usage

• "Knight-errant": A historical/literary term for a medieval knight who wandered in search of adventure to show chivalry and heroism.
  • The tales often feature a noble knight-errant on a quest.

Variants and Related Words

• Errancy (noun): The state or an instance of erring; error.
  • The errancy of the data was due to a calculation mistake.
• Erring (adjective): Having done wrong; mistaken.
  • He was an erring soul seeking forgiveness.

Synonyms

• Straying: Wandering from the correct path.
• Wayward: Difficult to control or predict because of unusual or perverse behavior.
• Aberrant: Departing from an accepted standard.

Antonyms

• Correct: Free from error; in accordance with fact or truth.
• Obedient: Complying or willing to comply with orders or requests.

Related Idioms

• "Errant nonsense": Used to emphasize that an idea or statement is completely wrong or foolish.
  • That theory is nothing but errant nonsense.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. uncontrolled motion that is irregular or unpredictable
   • an errant breeze
2. straying from the right course or from accepted standards
   • errant youngsters