Erred

Erred is the past tense and past participle of the verb to err, meaning to make a mistake or to be mistaken; to deviate from accuracy, truth, or propriety. The sense covers errors in knowledge, judgment, calculation, or conduct.

Usage notes: Erred is used to refer to mistakes that have already occurred. For example, The scientist erred in interpreting the data. In legal or formal writing, one might say The court erred in its ruling to indicate an error in judgment or procedure. The common expression to err on the side of caution is typically stated with the present tense err, not erred, but the idea concerns acting cautiously when there is uncertainty.

Relation to other forms: Erred is formed by adding -ed to the root err, and the standard spelling preserves the double r. It can appear in perfect tenses or passive constructions, such as have erred or was erred, depending on the sentence.

Etymology and related terms: The verb derives from Old French errer, from Latin errare meaning to wander or go astray, itself from a Proto-Italic or Proto-Indo-European root related to wandering off course. Cognate terms appear in several languages, such as French errer and Spanish errar.

Cultural note: The well-known saying “To err is human” is a translation of the Latin Errare humanum est, commonly attributed to the Roman playwright Terence. The phrase is used to acknowledge that mistakes are a natural part of human conduct.