Ert

Alternative forms

• art

Origin

From Middle English erten, ertin, from Old Norse erta ("to provoke, incite, tease"), from Proto-Germanic *artijaną ("to excite, tease"), from Proto-Indo-European *ardi-, *ard- ("sharp point, stinger"). Cognate with Icelandic erta ("to irritate"), Norwegian erta ("to taunt"), Swedish ärta ("to tease, jibe"), Old Irish aird ("point, ord, end point"), Ancient Greek άρδις (árdis, "arrowhead").

Full definition of ert

Verb

1. (transitive, UK dialectal) To incite; urge on; encourage.
2. (transitive, UK dialectal) To irritate; grill; provoke.
3. (intransitive, UK dialectal) To be eager, prone; hurry.
4. (transitive, UK dialectal) To make as if to strike; argue (with); strive after; try to obtain.
5. (intransitive, UK dialectal) To strive onward and upward.

Derived terms

• ertand
• erter
• erting