incipient

[ in-sip-ee-uhnt ]

adjective

1. beginning to exist or appear; in an initial stage:

   an incipient cold.

   Synonyms: developing, nascent, beginning

incipient

/ ɪnˈsɪpɪənt /

adjective

1. just starting to be or happen; beginning

Derived Forms

• inˈcipience, noun
• inˈcipiently, adverb

Other Words From

• in·cipi·ent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of incipient¹

1580–90; < Latin incipient- (stem of incipiēns, present participle of incipere to take in hand, begin), equivalent to in- in- ² + -cipi- (combining form of capi- take) + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of incipient¹

C17: from Latin incipiēns, from incipere to begin, take in hand, from in- ² + capere to take

Example Sentences

Perhaps it was Babitz’s lack of self-discipline, or her excessive drug use, or the incipient onset of Huntington’s disease, which would eventually take her life.

From Los Angeles Times

It is among a handful of countries, inlcuding the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Thailand, that are regulating what is still an incipient edible insects industry.

From BBC

“There are toxic cleavages and an incipient social fragmentation that can easily turn into instability.”

From BBC

Governments provided the scaffolding: They built up roads and schools, offered business-friendly rules and incentives, developed capable administrative institutions and nurtured incipient industries.

From New York Times

In the rare event that I wake up in the morning with a twinge of an incipient migraine, I take a BC Powder.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• embryonic
• nascent