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# err

«err» in Mova's school dictionary: **human»** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### 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 →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/err/#m1)

2) (formal, old, church) To do wrong; to sin: «We have erred and strayed like lost sheep». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/err/#m2)

3) «err on the side of» — to choose the safer of two choices: «err on the side of caution». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/err/#m3)

### sense in the 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

- To err is human, to forgive divine. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/err/#x1)
- If you're unsure whether the ice is safe, err on the side of caution and stay off. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/err/#x2)
- The judge erred in his decision. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/err/#x3)
- In the old prayer we say, "We have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep." [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/err/#x4)
- The erring pupil said sorry. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/err/#x5)
- It is better to err on the side of kindness. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/err/#x6)

### 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,](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/NUM.590/)
- [O My people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/ISA.68/)
- [For they that lead this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/ISA.203/)
- [They also that err in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmur shall learn instruction.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/ISA.617/)
- [O LORD, why dost Thou make us to err from Thy ways, and hardenest our heart from Thy fear?](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/ISA.1360/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «err» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/err/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.