好词典

errant

UK //ˈer.ənt//US //ˈer.ənt//

词源

源自中古英语eraunt,最终来自拉丁语iterare(旅行),与err(犯错)同源,原指"漫游的",后引申为"偏离正轨的"。

adjective

❶ 指人或行为偏离正轨、犯错的,常用于形容行为不当或违背常理的情况。

“The errant knight wandered the countryside seeking adventure.”

(那位行为不羁的骑士在乡间游荡,寻找冒险。)

“She scolded her errant son for skipping school.”

(她责骂逃学的儿子行为不端。)

❶ 指物体偏离预期路径或位置的,多用于描述运动轨迹异常的情况。

“The errant golf ball broke a window in the nearby house.”

(偏离轨道的高尔夫球打碎了附近房子的窗户。)

“Scientists tracked the errant satellite as it drifted off course.”

(科学家们追踪那颗偏离轨道的卫星。)

同义词:misbehaving, wayward, stray, unruly, delinquent

常见短语

errant knight — 指中世纪文学中脱离队伍独自冒险的骑士,常带有浪漫化色彩。

“Don Quixote imagined himself as an errant knight fighting for justice.”

(堂吉诃德幻想自己是位行侠仗义的游侠骑士。)

errant thought — 形容突然出现的、不受控制的杂念或分心的想法。

“An errant thought about dinner distracted her during the meeting.”

(关于晚餐的杂念让她在会议中走神。)