WordPlay Wanderings: JECT
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Several words in the Spelling Bee lexicon have an interesting connection: they all include the letter sequence JECT, which comes from the Latin jactare, to throw.
We throw things around all the time, and we use prefixes to indicate how and where we throw. When we throw on object ACROSS a space, the thing we throw follows a TRAJECTORY.
We throw things around all the time, and we use prefixes to indicate how and where we throw. When we throw on object ACROSS a space, the thing we throw follows a TRAJECTORY.
When we want to complain, disagree, or prevent, we use the OB- prefix to throw our own ideas AGAINST the situation.
When a health pro administers a medication via a needle, they throw it IN.
We throw things or ideas FORWARD when we PRO- them, and an object that we throw is a PROJECTILE.
When we want to examine something, we use the SUB- prefix to throw it UNDER our gaze. When we no longer want something, we use the RE- prefix to throw it BACKWARD.
When we interrupt, we use the inter- prefix to throw ourselves BETWEEN other people.
When we modify a noun, we use the AD- prefix to throw another word TOWARD the noun.
The word finder function in Merriam-Webster (M-W) indicates that 313 words in the abridged edition have this sequence of letters; the Spelling Bee lexicon has 13 of those words.
The table below shows the etymology and literal meaning of each of these 13 Bee words, along with the definitions (from M-W) as we use them in modern American English. M-W includes obsolete and archaic definitions for a few, and these shed some light on how we have adapted older literal meanings to modern figurative uses.
Pangrams are shown in ALL CAPS. Bee words marked with an asterisk have been used in at least one Spelling Bee puzzle, then subsequently disallowed; they are retained here for historical interest.
When a health pro administers a medication via a needle, they throw it IN.
We throw things or ideas FORWARD when we PRO- them, and an object that we throw is a PROJECTILE.
When we want to examine something, we use the SUB- prefix to throw it UNDER our gaze. When we no longer want something, we use the RE- prefix to throw it BACKWARD.
When we interrupt, we use the inter- prefix to throw ourselves BETWEEN other people.
When we modify a noun, we use the AD- prefix to throw another word TOWARD the noun.
The word finder function in Merriam-Webster (M-W) indicates that 313 words in the abridged edition have this sequence of letters; the Spelling Bee lexicon has 13 of those words.
The table below shows the etymology and literal meaning of each of these 13 Bee words, along with the definitions (from M-W) as we use them in modern American English. M-W includes obsolete and archaic definitions for a few, and these shed some light on how we have adapted older literal meanings to modern figurative uses.
Pangrams are shown in ALL CAPS. Bee words marked with an asterisk have been used in at least one Spelling Bee puzzle, then subsequently disallowed; they are retained here for historical interest.
ABOUT THE LEXITOPICS PROJECT
More about OBJECT:
The word “object” has developed more nuanced meanings than the other JECT words in this list. M-W’s Word History note for the noun form says, in part:
Middle English object, objecte "something presented to the senses, purpose, objection," borrowed from Latin objectum "something presented to the senses, charge, accusation" , noun derivative from neuter of objectus, past participle of obicere, objicere "to throw in the way, place against, put forward, present (to the eyes, mind, etc.), cite as a ground for disapproval," from ob- "against, in the way" + jacere "to throw, cast"
From this, it is easy to see that the noun “object” can refer to the actual physical thing we are looking at, but also in a figurative sense, can refer to the idea we are considering, or the goal of the game, or the desired end result.
M-W traces the history of the verb form as follows:
Middle English objecten, in part borrowed from Latin objectus, past participle of obicere, objicere "to throw in the way, put forward, cite as a ground for disapproval or criticism," in part borrowed from Latin objectāre "to throw before, put in the way, cite as a ground for disapproval," frequentative of obicere —
And so when we object to an idea or a plan, we throw our opposition at it. Photo by Robert Citron, 1968 (Smithsonian Institution) via Public Domain Dedication CC0 license.
Middle English object, objecte "something presented to the senses, purpose, objection," borrowed from Latin objectum "something presented to the senses, charge, accusation" , noun derivative from neuter of objectus, past participle of obicere, objicere "to throw in the way, place against, put forward, present (to the eyes, mind, etc.), cite as a ground for disapproval," from ob- "against, in the way" + jacere "to throw, cast"
From this, it is easy to see that the noun “object” can refer to the actual physical thing we are looking at, but also in a figurative sense, can refer to the idea we are considering, or the goal of the game, or the desired end result.
M-W traces the history of the verb form as follows:
Middle English objecten, in part borrowed from Latin objectus, past participle of obicere, objicere "to throw in the way, put forward, cite as a ground for disapproval or criticism," in part borrowed from Latin objectāre "to throw before, put in the way, cite as a ground for disapproval," frequentative of obicere —
And so when we object to an idea or a plan, we throw our opposition at it. Photo by Robert Citron, 1968 (Smithsonian Institution) via Public Domain Dedication CC0 license.