proicebat

Proicebat is a Latin verb form used in grammar discussions to illustrate the imperfect tense of the verb proicere, meaning to throw forward or cast forth. It is not typically treated as a separate lexical entry in standard dictionaries; rather, it serves as an example of how io- or -io verbs conjugate in the imperfect.

Etymology and morphology: Proicere is built from the prefix pro- plus i- a root related to throw. In the imperfect active, classical Latin commonly yields forms such as proiciebat, but historical or pedagogical texts may also present variants like proicebat to show phonological or orthographic possibilities. The form proicebat would be analyzed as the third-person singular imperfect indicative, with the expected long-standing meaning “he was throwing forth.” In canonical Latin, proiciebat is the more widely attested spelling.

Usage: Proicebat functions as a grammatical illustration rather than a standalone lexical item. It appears in grammar primers, exercise sentences, and linguistic discussions to demonstrate how the imperfect of an -io verb is formed and translated. A typical sense would be “he was throwing forth” or “he used to throw forth.”

Example: Miles telum proiciebat in hostes. Translation: The soldier was throwing the spear at the enemies.

Modern relevance: While proicebat itself is not a common entry in Latin dictionaries, it is useful for teaching and for understanding the conjugation pattern of proicere. It also highlights how orthographic variants can appear in historical texts, depending on scribal conventions.

See also: Proicere, Latin verbs, Latin grammar, Imperfect tense.