erf

Translingual

Etymology

Abbreviation of English error function.

Symbol

erf

1. (mathematics) error function.

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɜːf/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɝf/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)f

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h₃erbʰ-der.

Proto-Germanic *arbiją

Proto-West Germanic *arbī

Old English ierfe

Middle English erve

English erf

From Middle English erve, erfe, from Old English yrfe, ierfe (“heritage, bequest, inheritance, property, inherited property, property that passes to an heir, cattle, livestock”), from Proto-West Germanic *arbī, from Proto-Germanic *arbiją (“heritage”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃erbʰ- (“to change ownership”) (whence also *h₃órbʰos (“orphan”)).

Cognate with Dutch erf (“inheritance, patrimony, ground, courtyard”), German Erbe (“heritage, legacy, inheritance”), Danish arv (“heritage, inheritance”), Swedish arv (“heritage, inheritance”), Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐌱𐌹 (arbi, “inheritance”), Latin orbus (“orphan”), Ancient Greek ὀρφανός (orphanós, “orphan”), Old English ierfa (“heir”). Related to orf and odal and athel.

Noun

erf (plural erfs)

1. (Northern England, Scotland, rare) Inheritance; patrimony.

   Son, you will have this farm to erf.

2. (by extension) Stock; cattle.

Derived terms

• erfkin

References

• The Dictionary of the Scots Language

Etymology 2

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h₃erbʰ-der.

Proto-Germanic *arbiją

Proto-West Germanic *arbī

Old Dutch ervi

Middle Dutch erve

Dutch erfbor.

English erf

Borrowed from obsolete Dutch erf (“hereditament, plot of land”). Doublet of erf above.

Noun

erf (plural erfs or erven)

1. (US regional, Cape Colony, New York, South Africa) A small inherited house-and-garden lot in a village or settlement.

Derived terms

• ervenholder

Anagrams

• FER, REF, RFE, Ref, Ref., f***er, fer, ref

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛrf/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: erf
• Rhymes: -ɛrf

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch erve, from Old Dutch ervi, from Proto-West Germanic *arbī, from Proto-Germanic *arbiją.

Noun

erf n (plural erven, diminutive erfje n)

1. yard (open area adjoining and belonging to a house)
2. (figurative) heritage, patrimony

   Synonym: erfdeel

3. (obsolete, law) hereditament, especially a plot of land

   Antonym: kateel

4. (obsolete) inheritance

   Synonyms: erfenis, nalatenschap

Derived terms

• achtererf
• boerenerf
• erfdeel
• erfdienstbaarheid
• erfelijk
• erfenis
• erfgenaam
• erfgoed
• erfkraan
• erfpacht
• erftoegangsweg
• schoolerf
• speelerf
• voorerf
• woonerf

Descendants

• Afrikaans: erf
• → English: erf
• Negerhollands: erfe
• Petjo: erf

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

erf

1. inflection of erven:
   1. first-person singular present indicative
   2. (in case of inversion) second-person singular present indicative
   3. imperative

Middle English

Noun

erf

1. alternative form of erve