a short journey undertaken in order to deliver or collect something, especially on someone else's behalf (短程的)差事;差使 she asked Tim to run an errand for her. 她叫汤姆去为她办点儿事。 ■(archaic)the purpose or object of such a journey (古)使命;任务 she knew that if she stated her errand she would not be able to see him. 她知道,她一旦说出自己的使命就再也看不到他了。
常用词组 errand of mercy
a journey or mission carried out to help someone in difficulty or danger 援助使命;救援行动
语源
Old English ǣrende 'message, mission', of Germanic origin; related to Old High German ārunti, and obscurely to Swedish ärende and Danish aerinde