Errant vs Peripatetic - What's the difference?
errant | peripatetic |
Straying from the proper course or standard, or outside established limits.
* Sir Thomas Browne
Prone to making errors.
(proscribed) Utter, complete (negative); arrant.
* Ben Jonson
Tending to walk about.
Constantly travelling; itinerant; nomadic.
(usually, capitalized) Having to do with Aristotle, his philosophy, or the school of thought which he founded.
* Howell
One who walks about; a pedestrian; an itinerant.
(usually, capitalized) One who accepts the philosophy of Aristotle or his school; an Aristotelian.
* 1961 , Albert Upton, Design for Thinking: A First Book in Semantics , 11:
As adjectives the difference between errant and peripatetic
is that errant is straying from the proper course or standard, or outside established limits while peripatetic is of or pertaining to the philosophy or methods of aristotle, or to his followers.As a noun peripatetic is
a disciple of aristotle; an aristotelian.errant
English
Alternative forms
* (l) (obsolete)Adjective
(en adjective)- seven planets or errant stars in the lower orbs of heaven
- would make me an errant fool
Usage notes
Sometimes is considered simply an alternative spelling and pronunciation of errant', though many authorities distinguish them, reserving '''errant''' to mean “wandering” and using it ''after'' the noun it modifies, notably is “knight '''errant ”, while using ''arrant'' to mean “utter”, in a negative sense, and ''before'' the noun it modifies, notably in “''arrant knaves”. Etymologically, arrant arose as a variant of errant , but the meanings have long since diverged. Both terms are archaic, primarily used in set phrases (which may be considered ), and are easily confused, and on that basis some authorities suggest against using either.Synonyms
*Derived terms
* (l) * (l)References
* “arrant/errant”, Common Errors in English Usage, Paul Brians *
On Language: Arrant Nonsense, (William Safire), January 22, 2006, (New York Times) * Merriam–Webster’s dictionary of English usage, 1995,
“errant, arrant”, pp. 406–407
Anagrams
* ----peripatetic
English
Alternative forms
* peripatetick (obsolete)Adjective
(en adjective)- The true peripatetic school.
Noun
(en noun)- He who would think clearly must think like a peripatetic even if he is unwilling to walk like one.