Errand
/ˈɛr.ənd/noun
A task or mission, especially one sent by another person.
Did you know?The word began as a form of “to run,” so an errand was originally a journey or message sent by someone else, not just a chore.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reh₁-
“to run, flow”
Old English
OE
ǣrend
“message, tidings, business”
Middle English
ME
erande
“message, mission, business”
14th Century
English
errand
“a sent message or mission”
Modern English
English
errand
“a short trip taken to perform a task”