errand

来自PIE*ei, 走，离开。其现在分词ion, 过去分词it, 词源同exit, itinerary, 该词来自其拉丁语现在主动不完全格ire.

errand

errand: [OE] Despite the passing similarity, errand has no etymological connection with err and error. It comes from a prehistoric Germanic *ǣrundjam, which meant ‘message’ – a sense which in fact survived in English until as recently as the 18th century (Miles Coverdale, for example, in his 1535 translation of 1 Samuel 11:5 wrote ‘So they told him the errand of the men of Jabesh’ – where the Authorized Version has ‘tidings’).

The main modern meaning, ‘task one goes to perform’, developed in the 13th century (in American English it has latterly gained specific connotations of ‘shopping’). The source of the Germanic word is not known, but it is no doubt related to Swedish ärende and Danish ærinde ‘errand, message, business’.

errand (n.)

Old English ærende "message, mission; answer, news, tidings," a common Germanic word (cognates: Old Saxon arundi, Old Norse erendi, Danish ærende, Swedish ärende, Old Frisian erende, Old High German arunti "message"), which is of uncertain origin. Compare Old English ar "messenger, servant, herald." Originally of important missions; meaning "short, simple journey and task" is attested by 1640s. Related: Errands. In Old English, ærendgast was "angel," ærendraca was "ambassador."

1. She went off on some errand.

她办事去了。

2. He sent me on a fool's errand .

他派我去干白费力的事。

3. Unable to get about, she sent Joy on one errand after another.

她自己动不了窝,便派小福子一趟八趟的去买东西.

4. She had a more urgent errand.

她有一个更加紧急的差事要办。

5. His errand - running capacity also improved.

他做家务事的能力也有所提高.