The curved path that an object follows as it moves through the air or space; also, the direction of someone’s life or career over time.
It comes from New Latin 'trajectoria', from Latin 'traicere' meaning 'to throw across' ('trans' = across + 'iacere' = to throw). It originally described the path of a projectile.
When we talk about the 'trajectory' of a career or relationship, we’re secretly comparing it to a launched rocket or thrown ball. The word suggests that once something is set in motion, its path can be predicted—unless a new force acts on it.
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