Errancy
/ˈɛr.ən.si/noun
The quality or state of being mistaken, wandering, or deviating from a correct path.
Did you know?Errancy comes from the same ancient root as Latin *errare*, which meant both “to wander” and “to go astray,” a link that helped shape English words like “error” and “erratic.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ers-
“to wander, move about”
Latin
Latin
errare
“to wander; to stray; to make a mistake”
Late Latin
Latin
errantia
“wandering, straying”
Middle English
English
errant
“wandering; straying from duty or the right path”
Modern English
English
errancy
“the state or quality of erring or wandering”