errant

Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (2)

  1. straying from the right course or from accepted standards“errant youngsters”
  2. uncontrolled motion that is irregular or unpredictable“an errant breeze”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Errant \Er"rant\, a. [F. errant, p. pr. fr. OF. errer to travel, LL. iterare, fr. L. iter journey; confused somewhat with L. errare to err. See Eyre, and cf. Arrant, Itinerant.]

1.Wandering; deviating from an appointed course, or from a direct path; roving. [1913 Webster]

Seven planets or errant stars in the lower orbs of heaven.— Sir T. Browne.[1913 Webster]

2.Notorious; notoriously bad; downright; arrant. [1913 Webster]

Would make me an errant fool.— B. Jonson.[1913 Webster]

3.(Eng. Law) Journeying; itinerant; -- formerly applied to judges who went on circuit and to bailiffs at large. --Mozley & W. [1913 Webster]

Errant \Er"rant\, n. One who wanders about. [Obs.] --Fuller. [1913 Webster]
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