errand
pronunciation
How to pronounce errand in British English:
UK [ˈerənd]
How to pronounce errand in American English:
US [ˈerənd]
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- Noun:
- a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
Word Origin
- errand
- errand: [OE] Despite the passing similarity, errand has no etymological connection with err and error. It comes from a prehistoric Germanic *ǣrundjam, which meant ‘message’ – a sense which in fact survived in English until as recently as the 18th century (Miles Coverdale, for example, in his 1535 translation of 1 Samuel 11:5 wrote ‘So they told him the errand of the men of Jabesh’ – where the Authorized Version has ‘tidings’).The main modern meaning, ‘task one goes to perform’, developed in the 13th century (in American English it has latterly gained specific connotations of ‘shopping’). The source of the Germanic word is not known, but it is no doubt related to Swedish ärende and Danish ærinde ‘errand, message, business’.
- errand (n.)
- Old English ærende "message, mission; answer, news, tidings," a common Germanic word (cognates: Old Saxon arundi, Old Norse erendi, Danish ærende, Swedish ärende, Old Frisian erende, Old High German arunti "message"), which is of uncertain origin. Compare Old English ar "messenger, servant, herald." Originally of important missions; meaning "short, simple journey and task" is attested by 1640s. Related: Errands. In Old English, ærendgast was "angel," ærendraca was "ambassador."
Example
- 1. Thought of an errand you need to do ?
- 2. Everybody rushing about on some incomprehensible errand someone forced him to do at pain of death .
- 3. Now , plumlife text messages mr. mccormick about a half hour before each errand or task he has agreed to do .
- 4. It was tried by a few crazy companies , of course , but for the most part it was a fool 's errand .
- 5. Practices include sending someone on a " fool 's errand , " looking for things that don 't exist ; playing pranks ; and trying to get people to believe ridiculous things .