errandn.
/ˈɛrənd/, /ˈɛrn̩d/, U.S. /ˈɛrənd/ a. A message, a verbal communication to be repeated to a third party. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > message > [noun]
errandc890
bodec1275
bodeworda1325
messagec1325
sendingc1400
credence1424
a word in a person's ear1566
credency1620
intermessage1691
telegram1852
memorandum1899
c890 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. ii. ix He his hlafordes ærende secgan sceolde.
OE Guthlac A 724 Ða wæs Guðlaces gæst geblissad, siþþan Bartholomeus aboden hæfde godes ærendu.
c1200 Ormin Ded. 159 Godd~spell onn Ennglissh nemmnedd iss..God errnde.
c1290 Lives Saints (1887) 25 And seiden him þe erende.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xiv. 41 The messager..with hus mouth telleþ Hus erande, and hus lettere sheweþ.
c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 72 Now sweȝe me þider swyftly & say me þis arende.
c1440 York Myst. xx. 233 To þam youre herand for to say.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Sam. xi. 5 So they tolde him [Saul] the Earande of the Men of Iabes.
c1571 E. Campion Two Bks. Hist. Ireland (1963) ii. ix. 126 They pressed him sore with a trayterous errand sent by his daughter the Ladye of Slane to all his bretheren.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 5 Tel your king, from me, this errand.
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World i. 101 The second Messenger came in and delivered his Part of the Errand.
1754 Bp. T. Sherlock Disc. (1759) I. iv. 153 Preachers of the Gospel were sent..and the Errand was worthy of Him who sent them.
b. In religious language: A petition or prayer presented through another (the Virgin Mary).
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > prayer > kinds of prayer > [noun] > presented through another
errandc1200
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 167 Ure lafdi Seinte Marie bere ure arende to ure louerd ihesu crist.
c1440 Bone Flor. 1857 Lady Mary free..Here my errande, as thou well may.
c1450 (c1400) Emaré (1908) 8 Mary, hevyn qwene, Bere our arunde..To thy sone.
1849–53 D. Rock Church of our Fathers III. ix. 341 The ‘handmaid of the Lord’ was looked upon as one among the appointed bearers of our errands unto heaven.
2. A going with a message or a commission:
a. In an elevated or dignified sense: A mission, embassy, an expedition for a specific purpose. Now archaic, poetic, or rhetorical.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > delegated authority > [noun] > a commission given to anyone > on which one is sent
errandOE
sand1038
messagec1300
envoy1796
OE Andreas (1932) 215 Beo ðu on tid gearu; ne mæg þæs ærendes ylding wyrðan.
1065 Anglo-Saxon Chron. Hig læg don ærende on hine to þam cyninge Eadwarde.
1683 W. Temple Mem. in Wks. (1731) I. 477 I never obey'd the King so unwillingly in my Life; both upon Account of an Errand so unnecessary, and, etc.
1727 J. Thomson Summer 38 Immortal Forms, On heavenly Errands bent.
1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville II. 257 They met the guide returning from his secret errand.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. II. xxi. 207 The scene..impressed my brother when he visited it on his errand of rescue.
b. In modern colloquial language, esp.: A short journey on which an inferior (e.g. a servant, a child) is sent to convey a message or perform some simple business on behalf of the sender. Phrases, to run (on) errands, to go (on) an errand.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > duties > [noun] > a duty or piece of business > errand
needOE
businessa1616
errand1642
society > occupation and work > duties > [noun] > a duty or piece of business > errand > journey to perform
errand1642
errandry1834
1642 King Charles I Declar. 12 Aug. 13 Attending the doores of both Houses to be employed in their errants.
1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities ii. i. 34 He was never absent during business hours, unless upon an errand.
c. Phrases. fool's errand: see fool n.1 and adj. Compounds 4b. †sleeveless errand: see sleeveless adj. 2b.
ΚΠ
1705 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft 15 Did not the Pope send all the Princes in Christendom upon a Fools Errand, to gain the Holy (unholy) Land.
1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack viii. 43 The doctor's come on a fool's errand.
1884 Cent. Mag. Nov. 59/1 He was only going on a fool's errand again.
3. The business on which one is sent; in wider sense, the object of a journey, a purpose, intention.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > intention > [noun] > intention or purpose > end, purpose, or object
willeOE
errand?c1225
purposec1300
endc1305
emprisec1330
intentc1340
use1340
conclusionc1374
studya1382
pointc1385
causec1386
gamea1393
term?c1400
businessc1405
finec1405
intentionc1410
object?a1425
obtent?a1475
drift1526
intend1526
respect1528
flight1530
finality?1541
stop1551
scope1559
butt?1571
bent1579
aiming point1587
pursuitc1592
aim1595
devotion1597
meaning1605
maina1610
attempt1610
design1615
purport1616
terminusa1617
intendment1635
pretence1649
ettle1790
big (also great) idea1846
objective1878
objective1882
the name of the game1910
the object of the exercise1958
thrust1968
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 181 Clene bone..cumeð in biforen almichtin god. & deð þe ernde..wel.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1402 Eliezer..tolde hem fro queðen he cam, And for quat erdene he ðider nam.
a1400 Cov. Myst. (1841) 282 I come ageyn Fulleche myn Erdon for to spede.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 257 To wone any quyle in þis won, hit watȝ not myn ernde.
?1459 M. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 257 Yovr svnne dede hese heyrne ryght wele, as ye xal here aftyr þis.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1865) I. 243 To exercise theire causes and erneddes.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 263/4 Gotard..for certeyne necessitees and erandes retorned into placence.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 522 The woman..vnder shadow of shame shewid forth hir ernd.
1598 B. Yong tr. J. de Montemayor Diana 24 I..tooke out before me a few goates.. bicause I would not goe without some errant.
1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 179 Commissions of Justitiarie, suld nocht be granted..for langer space nor the earand in hand may be conveniently perfited.
1610 T. Lorkin in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. ii. 251 III. 221 The chief errand of my last Letters was to let you understand of our safe comming hither.
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 70 He had another errant to Persia, than buying of Slaves.
1790 W. Paley Horæ Paulinæ Rom. i. 9 The errand which brought him to Jerusalem.
1883 ‘Ouida’ Wanda I. 3 This errand was distasteful.
4. to make an errand: (a) (cf. sense 2) to make a short journey; (b) (cf. sense 3) to find a pretence for going.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [verb (intransitive)] > make short journey or excursion, esp. for pleasure
to go abroadc1400
to make an errandc1400
to look out1551
jaunt1647
out1653
trip1664
to make or take a step1670
to step up1758
run1759
excursion1792
excursionize1866
tripper1959
c1400 Rom. Rose 2513 If thou..any errand mightest make Thider, for thy loves sake.
1491 Act 7 Hen. VII c. 22 Pream. Y made myn erand unto you for seyng of evydence.
1549 King Edward VI Jrnl. in Lit. Rem. (1857–8) 249 Guidotty made divers harauntes from the constable of Fraunce to make peace with us.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 936 He him selfe made an arrant home to fetche suche thinges as he lacked.
1589 T. Nashe Anat. Absurditie sig. B Women..will not stick to make an errant ouer the way.
1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin II. xxvii. 120 Tom,..after vainly waiting for him to come out, determined, at last, to make an errand in.
Compounds
C1. General attributive. Also erendrake n.
a. † erindebere n. Obsolete Middle English, = errand-bearer n.
errand-bearer n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger
erendrakec825
bodec888
apostlec950
sand1038
sandesman1123
sanderbodec1200
bearer?c1225
errand-bearer?c1225
messenger?c1225
erindeberea1250
sand-manc1275
beadsman1377
herald1377
messagea1382
runnera1382
sendmana1400
interpreter1490
nuntius1534
post1535
pursuivant?1536
nuncius1573
nuncio1587
carrier1594
nunciate1596
mercury1597
chiaus1599
foreranger1612
postera1614
irisa1616
missivea1616
chouse1632
angela1637
caduceator1684
purpose messenger1702
errand-bringer1720
harkara1747
commissionaire1749
carrier pigeon1785
errander1803
errand-porter1818
tchaush1819
card carrier1845
errand-goer1864
choush1866
ghulam1882
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 49 Þe licht echȝe..is as erende beorere of þe lichte heorte.
13.. Interloc. Poem in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 146 Thu salt be my herand-bere.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3226 Apon his kne he did him suere þat he suld be lel errand berer.
errand-bringer n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger
erendrakec825
bodec888
apostlec950
sand1038
sandesman1123
sanderbodec1200
bearer?c1225
errand-bearer?c1225
messenger?c1225
erindeberea1250
sand-manc1275
beadsman1377
herald1377
messagea1382
runnera1382
sendmana1400
interpreter1490
nuntius1534
post1535
pursuivant?1536
nuncius1573
nuncio1587
carrier1594
nunciate1596
mercury1597
chiaus1599
foreranger1612
postera1614
irisa1616
missivea1616
chouse1632
angela1637
caduceator1684
purpose messenger1702
errand-bringer1720
harkara1747
commissionaire1749
carrier pigeon1785
errander1803
errand-porter1818
tchaush1819
card carrier1845
errand-goer1864
choush1866
ghulam1882
1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic I. iv. 235 The Consuls..ordered that Errand-bringer of theirs to be driven away ignominously.
errand-cart n.
ΚΠ
1810 Edinb. Rev. 15 342 Who employs the drivers of errand-carts to distribute them indiscriminately to travellers.
errand-goer n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger
erendrakec825
bodec888
apostlec950
sand1038
sandesman1123
sanderbodec1200
bearer?c1225
errand-bearer?c1225
messenger?c1225
erindeberea1250
sand-manc1275
beadsman1377
herald1377
messagea1382
runnera1382
sendmana1400
interpreter1490
nuntius1534
post1535
pursuivant?1536
nuncius1573
nuncio1587
carrier1594
nunciate1596
mercury1597
chiaus1599
foreranger1612
postera1614
irisa1616
missivea1616
chouse1632
angela1637
caduceator1684
purpose messenger1702
errand-bringer1720
harkara1747
commissionaire1749
carrier pigeon1785
errander1803
errand-porter1818
tchaush1819
card carrier1845
errand-goer1864
choush1866
ghulam1882
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. v. 33 He was errand-goer by appointment to the house at the corner.
errand-porter n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger
erendrakec825
bodec888
apostlec950
sand1038
sandesman1123
sanderbodec1200
bearer?c1225
errand-bearer?c1225
messenger?c1225
erindeberea1250
sand-manc1275
beadsman1377
herald1377
messagea1382
runnera1382
sendmana1400
interpreter1490
nuntius1534
post1535
pursuivant?1536
nuncius1573
nuncio1587
carrier1594
nunciate1596
mercury1597
chiaus1599
foreranger1612
postera1614
irisa1616
missivea1616
chouse1632
angela1637
caduceator1684
purpose messenger1702
errand-bringer1720
harkara1747
commissionaire1749
carrier pigeon1785
errander1803
errand-porter1818
tchaush1819
card carrier1845
errand-goer1864
choush1866
ghulam1882
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian ix, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. II. 222 A tattered cadie, or errand porter..exclaimed in a strong north-country tone.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger
erendrakec825
bodec888
apostlec950
sand1038
sandesman1123
sanderbodec1200
bearer?c1225
errand-bearer?c1225
messenger?c1225
erindeberea1250
sand-manc1275
beadsman1377
herald1377
messagea1382
runnera1382
sendmana1400
interpreter1490
nuntius1534
post1535
pursuivant?1536
nuncius1573
nuncio1587
carrier1594
nunciate1596
mercury1597
chiaus1599
foreranger1612
postera1614
irisa1616
missivea1616
chouse1632
angela1637
caduceator1684
purpose messenger1702
errand-bringer1720
harkara1747
commissionaire1749
carrier pigeon1785
errander1803
errand-porter1818
tchaush1819
card carrier1845
errand-goer1864
choush1866
ghulam1882
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 26 Þe liht eie..is ase erindebere [?c1225 Cleo. erende beorere] of þe lihte heorte.
b.
errand-bearing adj.
C2. † erendes-man n. Obsolete Middle English, an ambassador.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > international politics or relations > diplomacy > [noun] > ambassador or envoy
sand1038
sandesman1123
sanderbodec1200
erendes-manc1275
sand-manc1275
legatec1350
embassadora1398
ambassador1417
bassatourc1450
orator1474
messenger1535
vakeel1622
public minister1624
minister1647
envoy1666
wakeel1803
missionary1821
elchee1824
ambassador-at-large1868
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12407 Nah na man demen erendes-mon [c1300 Otho herendrake] to dæðen.
errand-boy n. a boy kept to run on errands.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger > young messenger
errand-boy1765
errand-girl1782
messenger boy1832
message-lad1836
call boy1848
errand lad1887
1765 Minute Bk. St. Anne's Sch., Blackfriars in D. Owen Eng. Philanthropy (1965) i. i. 25 [The Mother] suffering her said Boy to go from Place to Place as Errand-boy instead of keeping him at School.
1815 J. Tweddell Rem. lxviii. 300 Savoyard [a term] for chimney-sweeper and errand-boy at Paris.
1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist I. x. 154 The tradesman leaves his counter..the errand-boy his parcels, the schoolboy his marbles.
1879 ‘E. Garrett’ House by Wks. I. 66 I will send the errand boy with thee to carry a note.
errand-girl n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger > young messenger
errand-boy1765
errand-girl1782
messenger boy1832
message-lad1836
call boy1848
errand lad1887
1782 F. Burney Let. 28 Dec. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (2012) V. 234 The Green Woman..sent her own errand girl.
1860 C. M. Yonge Hopes & Fears II. v. 100 Augusta will be ready to take her in—she is pining for an errand girl.
1933 D. L. Sayers Murder must Advertise ii. 31 ‘And who do you think I am,’ I said, ‘the errand-girl?’
errand lad n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger > young messenger
errand-boy1765
errand-girl1782
messenger boy1832
message-lad1836
call boy1848
errand lad1887
1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 29 June 13/2 Here, too, were errand lads, shop lads, clerks.
errand-making adj. that finds an excuse for accosting or intruding upon a person.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > [adjective] > of motives or purposes: ostensible > finding an excuse for intruding
errand-making1599
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > acting in another's business or intervention > [adjective] > intruding or interfering > making an excuse for
errand-making1599
1599 Warning for Faire Women i. 355 These errand-making gallants are good men, That cannot pass, and see a woman sit..But they will find a 'scuse to stand and prate.
Derivatives
ΚΠ
1736 N. Bailey et al. Dictionarium Britannicum (ed. 2) Errandeer, a scout at Oxford.
ˈerrander n. [+ -er suffix1] rare One who goes on an errand.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger
erendrakec825
bodec888
apostlec950
sand1038
sandesman1123
sanderbodec1200
bearer?c1225
errand-bearer?c1225
messenger?c1225
erindeberea1250
sand-manc1275
beadsman1377
herald1377
messagea1382
runnera1382
sendmana1400
interpreter1490
nuntius1534
post1535
pursuivant?1536
nuncius1573
nuncio1587
carrier1594
nunciate1596
mercury1597
chiaus1599
foreranger1612
postera1614
irisa1616
missivea1616
chouse1632
angela1637
caduceator1684
purpose messenger1702
errand-bringer1720
harkara1747
commissionaire1749
carrier pigeon1785
errander1803
errand-porter1818
tchaush1819
card carrier1845
errand-goer1864
choush1866
ghulam1882
1803 G. Stephens S. Bugge's Stud. N. Mythol. 41 A shrub forgotten by the erranders.
ˈerrandry n. [+ -ry suffix] = errand n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > duties > [noun] > a duty or piece of business > errand > journey to perform
errand1642
errandry1834
1834 B. Disraeli Revolutionary Epick i. xxxi. 44 Swift To-morrow [is] but a truant hind, That lags upon a graceless errandry.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c890