Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: errer, from Latin errare

err

 verb
     
err [intransitive]
1

err on the side of something

to be more careful or safe than is necessary, in order to make sure that nothing bad happens:
It's always best to err on the side of caution.
2 old use to make a mistake
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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