In Latin, iter means "way" or "journey." That root was the parent of the Late Latin verb itinerari, meaning "to journey." It was that verb which ultimately gave rise to the English word for traveling types: itinerant. The linguistic grandparent, iter, also contributed to the development of other English words, including itinerary ("the route of a journey" and "the plan made for a journey") and errant ("traveling or given to traveling," as in knight-errant).
Recent Examples on the WebTraveling around the country is part of a Cabinet secretary’s portfolio, but Walsh has been particularly itinerant. Jim Puzzanghera, BostonGlobe.com, 5 July 2022 Her widower, Thomas Fitzgerald, an itinerant worker, couldn’t raise their 3 kids alone & sent them off to families that took them as servants. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2022 The itinerant entertainers made their escape amid the howling cheers. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Aug. 2022 Wright’s wife, Jessica, illustrates the itinerant nature of sports in 2022. Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 July 2022 Since then, the United States Grand Prix has had an itinerant feel.New York Times, 14 July 2022 The theater’s 2022-23 season includes the final performances at the old space and a move to an itinerant period of performing at various spaces around New Haven. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2022 The hurdy-gurdy man Donald Heller’s hurdy-gurdy might be the quintessential street performer’s instrument, given its long associations with itinerant musicians in Europe. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 30 June 2022 The resulting pictures also highlight contrasts between rich and poor, chaos and stability, settled and itinerant. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 10 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Late Latin itinerant-, itinerans, present participle of itinerari to journey, from Latin itiner-, iter journey, way; akin to Hittite itar way, Latin ire to go — more at issue entry 1