A Project Is Something Thrown Forward
A project is a planned piece of work. The verb means to throw forward, which is why films are projected and voices carry.
A project is a planned undertaking with a beginning and an end. The Latin *proicere* means to throw forward, and that image runs through every sense: a projector throws an image, an actor projects a voice, a forecast projects a trend, and a project throws work forward into the future.
- A planned piece of work. *A building project.*
- To throw forward. *Project the image.*
- To estimate for the future. *Sales are projected to rise.*
- To make a voice carry. *Project from the diaphragm.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | project | A pilot project. |
| Verb | project | Project the figures. |
| Noun | projection | A revenue projection. |
| Noun | projector | A ceiling projector. |
| Adjective | projected | Projected costs. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The project runs until March.Noun, stressed PRO-ject.
- Costs are projected to double.Verb, stressed pro-JECT.
- She projects well without a microphone.Voice.
The throwing family
- Project — throw forward
- Eject — throw out
- Inject — throw in
- Reject — throw back
- Subject — thrown under, hence placed beneath authority
From Latin *proiectum*, something thrown forth, from *pro* and *iacere*, to throw. The same verb produced a whole family of English words ending in -ject.
Where is the stress?
PRO-ject for the noun, pro-JECT for the verb, following the usual English pattern.
What is psychological projection?
Attributing your own feelings to someone else. The name uses the same image of throwing something outward.