errant
wandering, straying, or behaving wrongly
Root
- err / errare: wander, stray, or go off course
Other words with the err / errare root
- aberrant: departing from the usual course
- aberration: a departure from what is normal or expected
- err: to make a mistake or go wrong
- erratic: irregular or unpredictable
- error: a mistake or departure from correctness
Err gives wander or stray. Errant things have gone off the expected path.
The errant comma changed the meaning of the sentence and confused the whole class.
Errant is the wandering word made visible. A knight errant wanders; an errant child, thought, or comma strays from where it was supposed to be.