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DictionaryRoot: iacere
Latin

iacere

throw, cast

Forms

  • iac-
  • iact- — Latin stem of the form meaning ‘thrown.’
  • -ic- — Used in Latin compounds.
  • -iect- — Stem of the form meaning ‘thrown’ in Latin compounds.
  • -ject- — English spelling of the compound stem.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ye-, ‘throw; impel.’

Note

Latin vowel length distinguishes this verb from iacēre, ‘lie down.’

11 / 18
noun / adjective

projectile

pruh-JEK-tul/prəˈdʒektl/

An object propelled through the air, or capable of being so propelled.

The stone becomes a projectile as it flies from the slingshot.

A stone visibly flying away from the released pouch of a slingshot, with the airborne stone prominent and a few short motion strokes establishing propulsion.
Etymology
proLatinbefore, forward; on behalf of
+jectLatinthrow, cast
+ileLatinable or suitable to be; connected with

The pieces describe something capable of being thrown forward. As a noun, projectile names the body propelled by force, whether thrown by hand or fired as a missile.

In context

NASA STI Program8:15
a projectile fired even faster will have a flight path away from the earth
Space Flight: The Application of Orbital Mechanics

More examples

  • The cannon fires a heavy projectile across the field.
  • Safety glasses protect your eyes from flying projectiles.
  • Students track the ball's projectile motion through the air.

Forms

projectile · projectiles

Similar words

missile
Usually a weapon launched toward a target, often guided.
bullet
Specifically a small metal projectile fired from a gun.