inchoate
/ɪnˈkəʊ.eɪt/
adjective
Origin
Latin
inchoare — to start work on, to begin
Overview
Meaning Now
- Just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary.
- Confused or incoherent.
Literal older meaning
just begun
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
inchoatus
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term enters English during the Renaissance, reflecting a scholarly desire to utilize Latinate vocabulary for precise descriptive states. It is historically related to the idea of preparing a plow or yoke, implying the very first step of an undertaking.
Evolution
- Latin
inchoare
“to commence, to lay the foundation”
Derived from 'cohum', the loop or strap of a yoke.
- 16th century English
inchoate
“recently begun; incomplete”
Introduced as a direct borrowing from Latin past participle.
Connections
Word parts
in-
prefix
in, into
choate
root
derived from cohum (yoke-strap); to initiate
Related across languages
French
inchoatif
inchoative (grammar term for verbs of beginning)
Explore next
Related to inchoate
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.