err
part of speech
verb (err, errs, erred, erring) — formal
meaning for a pupil
1) (formal) To make a mistake or be wrong: «To err is human». tree →
2) (formal, old, church) To do wrong; to sin: «We have erred and strayed like lost sheep». tree →
3) «err on the side of» — to choose the safer of two choices: «err on the side of caution». tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the Torah it means to sin by mistake, without meaning to. In Job and the Psalms it also means to go wrong or stray from God's commandments. Interpretation: The law provides a sin-offering for unintentional sins, and the tradition says even sins done by accident need to be set right. In the Psalms the tradition reads the speaker as learning through suffering to follow God's word. In the primary lessons: A formal and old word. Common sayings: «To err is human, to forgive divine» (it is natural to make mistakes; forgiving is God-like). In church: some old prayers say «we have erred and strayed». In safety: «err on the side of caution» = choose the safer option. Phrases: «to err is human», «err on the side of caution», «erring child».
examples
- And when ye shall err, and not observe all these commandments, which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses, (Torah NUM.15.22, JPS 1917) tree →
- And if the whole congregation of Israel shall err, the thing being hid from the eyes of the assembly, and do any of the things which the LORD hath commanded not to be done, and are guilty: (Torah LEV.4.13, JPS 1917) tree →
- And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself. (Writings JOB.19.4, JPS 1917) tree →
- Before I was afflicted, I did err; but now I observe Thy word. (Writings PSA.119.67, JPS 1917) tree →
- Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, that do err from Thy commandments. (Writings PSA.119.21, JPS 1917) tree →
- To err is human, to forgive divine. tree →
- If you're unsure whether the ice is safe, err on the side of caution and stay off. tree →
- The judge erred in his decision. tree →
- In the old prayer we say, "We have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep." tree →
- The erring pupil said sorry. tree →
- It is better to err on the side of kindness. tree →
note
Regular verb: erred, erring. Pronounced «ur» (rhymes with «fur»), sometimes «air». Related nouns: «error», «erratum». Do not confuse with the hesitation sound «er» or «erm».
In the corpora
- And when ye shall err, and not observe all these commandments, which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses,
- O My people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
- For they that lead this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
- They also that err in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmur shall learn instruction.
- O LORD, why dost Thou make us to err from Thy ways, and hardenest our heart from Thy fear?
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «err» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.