inceptive
Americanadjective
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beginning; initial.
- Synonyms:
- nascent, embryonic, inchoative
-
Grammar. (of a derived verb, or of an aspect in verb inflection) expressing the beginning of the action indicated by the underlying verb, as Latin verbs in -scō, which generally have inceptive force, as calēscō “become or begin to be hot” from caleō “be hot.”
noun
-
the inceptive aspect.
-
a verb in this aspect.
adjective
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beginning; incipient; initial
-
Also called: inchoative. grammar denoting an aspect of verbs in some languages used to indicate the beginning of an action
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inceptive
From the Late Latin word inceptīvus, dating back to 1605–15. See incept, -ive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"One is at once impressed," admits Psychologist Seashore, "with the appalling task which this inceptive science has assumed for itself, and how undeveloped the work is within this field."
From Time Magazine Archive
Particularly in the playing of Miss Johns one seems to see the gathering nebula of an inceptive star.
From Time Magazine Archive
But before doing so let me acknowledge my indebtedness for the inceptive thought of all I have said, and shall say, to Dr. Joseph A. Seiss, of Philadelphia, in his wondrous lectures on 'The Revelation.'
From The Mark of the Beast by Watson, Sidney
Yet as soon as we give the “durative” notion of being red an inceptive or transitional turn, we can avoid the parallel form “it becomes red, it turns red” and say “it reddens.”
From Language An Introduction to the Study of Speech by Sapir, Edward
All the attraction of her gorgeous habiliments, her warm assurance and her inceptive tenderness detached themselves from the general fusion and became distinct.
From The Yoke A Romance of the Days when the Lord Redeemed the Children of Israel from the Bondage of Egypt by Miller, Elizabeth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
