Traicere

Traicere is a Latin verb meaning “to throw across” or “to cross over,” used both in literal contexts (to move something from one side to the other, such as crossing a river) and in figurative senses (to cross boundaries or limits). It appears in classical and late Latin literary and military writing.

The verb belongs to the third conjugation in the -io group and has the principal parts traicio, traicere, traieci, traiectum. In the present active indicative, its forms are traicio, traicis, traicit, traicimus, traicitis, traiciunt; other tenses follow regular -io conjugation patterns. The passive forms derive from the same root with passive participles such as traiectus, and the corresponding noun traiectio signifies “a crossing” or “the act of crossing.”

Usage notes and examples: traicere is often used with reference to crossing a physical barrier, especially a river (for example, crossing a river in a military campaign). It can also appear in figurative language, describing the crossing of boundaries, lines, or other divisions in a broader sense.

Derivatives and cognates: the participle traiectus (having been crossed) and the noun traiectio (the crossing) are common derivatives. In English, the root appears in trajectory, which comes via Latin and French forms from the same social semantic field of crossing or throwing across.

See also: Iacio (to throw) and trans- (prefix indicating across).