inchoativeadj.n.
/ˈɪnkəʊeɪtɪv/, /ˈɪŋkəʊeɪtɪv/, /ɪnˈkəʊətɪv/, U.S. /ɪnˈkoʊədɪv/, /ˈɪnkoʊˌeɪdɪv/, /ˈɪŋkoʊˌeɪdɪv/ A. adj.
1. That is in an initial or incipient stage; rudimentary, inchoate; belonging to or of the nature of a beginning or commencement, initial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > [adjective] > (just) begun
inchoate1534
inchoateda1631
inchoativea1631
inchoanta1876
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [adjective] > in early stages
buddinga1586
infant1594
embryon1613
embryous1628
inchoateda1631
inchoativea1631
crepusculous1646
rudimentary1648
rudimental1658
embryo1659
incipient1669
crepuscular1679
dawninga1700
initiant1740
germing1749
embryotic1761
germinal1804
embryonic1825
embryonary1833
inchoanta1876
adawn1881
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1958) IX. 399 The torment is an inchoative hell, so is the person, the Wicked here, an inchoated Devill: It is S. Chrysostoms spontaneus dæmon, and voluntarius dæmon.
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter iii 1 This pureness is either imputative..Or inchoative, inherent pureness.
1662 J. Chandler tr. J. B. van Helmont Oriatrike 32 That the stable Ferments of places, should be as it were, the chief universal, simple, and inchoative or beginning Beginnings of Seeds.
1703 W. Burkitt Expos. Notes New Test. Gal. v. 24 We must not understand this of a total, plenery, and final Crucifixion, but inchoative only.
1865 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia VI. xxi. v. 495 The solution of the Polish Business is still in its inchoative stages.
2. Grammar. Of verbs: Denoting the beginning of an action; inceptive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > aspect > [adjective] > inchoative
inchoative1668
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. 450 Those particular Terminations which signifie a Verb to be Inchoative, Frequentative, Diminutive, are not without many exceptions.
1751 J. Harris Hermes i. vii. 126 These Inchoative Verbs are so peculiarly appropriated to the Beginnings of Time, that they are defective as to all Tenses, which denote it in its Completion.
1871 H. J. Roby Gram. Lat. Lang. §634 The inchoative form sometimes exists alone, sometimes is used besides the ordinary stem.
B. n.
Grammar. An inchoative verb; see A. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > a part of speech > verb > [noun] > verbs with specific aspects
frequentative1530
inchoative1530
inceptive1612
reiterative1805
iterative1853
continuative1870
stative1874
finite1924
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 403 They knowe neyther frequentatyves, nor inchoatyves, nor no suche sortes of verbes.
1678 E. Phillips New World of Words (new ed.) Inchoatives, in Grammar..as Calesco, to grow hot, or begin to be hot.
1751 J. Harris Hermes i. vii. 126 The Latins..have a Species of Verbs, derived from others..called Inchoatives or Inceptives.
1871 H. J. Roby Gram. Lat. Lang. §638 Inchoatives formed directly from noun stems.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1530