"Erroneous" means containing error, or mistaken. Its etymology traces back to Latin, where "erroneus" meant "wandering" or "straying," (as well as "to be incorrect" or "to be immoral,") derived from "errare," meaning "to wander" or "to err."   Essentially, the idea is that going astray or wandering can lead to making mistakes.  In the Bible, erroneous means "straying from the truth" or "failing to walk obediently in the truth." 

The adjective "erroneous" was first used in the English language during the Middle English period (1150-1500), around 1400 in the "Testament of Love," according to the Oxford English Dictionary.  It's believed to be borrowed from French, which itself comes from the Latin word "erroneus". 

Examples of the word "erroneous" used in a sentence: 
"They did nothing to dispel his erroneous belief about the children's paternity." 
"They have arrived at some erroneous conclusions." 
"It had been widely and erroneously reported that Armstrong had refused to give evidence." 
"In the past, people held the erroneous belief that the moon was made of cheese." 
"However, on further examination, the claim can be seen to be wholly erroneous." 
"These fossils, which are now in the British Museum, were interpreted by Dr Mantell, who made comparisons with the skeleton of Iguana, on the erroneous supposition that the resemblance in the teeth denoted some relationship to this existing lizard."

On 6/27/2025 at 6:01 AM, Bill W said:

Examples of the word "erroneous" used in a sentence: 
"They did nothing to dispel his erroneous belief about the children's paternity." 

I saw a television program some time back with deals with child paternity.  This woman hauled six men into court to see which of them was the father of her young child.  DNA proved none of the six were the biological father of the child.  Under pressure of questions from the judge, the woman admitted that there SEVEN additional men she had slept with during the "window of conception," as the judge called it, but she had wanted one of the six in court that day to be the father, because they were in the best financial shape.

When my children were in elementary school, they had a classmate with several siblings, but each had a different surname.  It seems the mother got around and never learned about birth control.  If this fact had been discovered earlier, I'm sure the matronly woman principal would have been happy to buy here a supply of condoms to use in future trysts, because the children she had were not well cared for and a bit on a problem in school.  That was not only due to disruptive behavior, but they often wore the same clothes for days or weeks at a time and developed a distinctive odor as well, which caused the other children to give them "terrible" nicknames, such as "Pig Pen Paul," "Stinky Sam," "Reeking Rachael," and "Smelly Kelly."  I'm afraid I can't remember any of the other siblings' names, but if they had a name that could have been rhymed with something like that, I'm sure they had a similar moniker.  

Oh, and because of the different surnames and none of them looking alike, I don't think the children would have immediately known they were all related, except for the distinctive "familial trait".  That kind of gave it away.  I never met the woman, although she was frequently the talk of the PTA and they often took up a collection of donated new or hand-me-down clothing to give to the family, but if she was anything like her children, I'm surprised she had any offspring!  She must have used a ton of cheap perfume.