inchoative

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Latin inchoātīvus, formed by metathesis from incohātīvus, from incohō (to begin). Compare French inchoatif.

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

inchoative (not comparable)

  1. At the beginning, still in an unformed state.
    • 1648, Walter Montagu, Miscellanea Spiritualia, or Devout Essaies:
      Some inchoative or imperfect rays.
    • 1858, Thomas Carlyle, History Of Friedrich II Of Prussia:
      Our first Piece is of Winter, or late Autumn, 1771,—while the solution of the Polish Business is still in its inchoative stages; …
  2. (grammar) Aspectually indicating that a state is about to be entered or is in the process of being entered.
    • 1974, Floyd L. Moreland, Rita M. Fleischer, Latin: An Intensive Course, University of California Press, page 12:
      The inchoative (inceptive) aspect of a verb expresses the beginning of an action. Example: He is beginning to crawl.
  3. (grammar) Inflected in or relating to the inchoative aspect.

Related terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

Noun[edit]

inchoative (plural inchoatives)

  1. (grammar) An inchoative construction.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

German[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (file)

Adjective[edit]

inchoative

  1. inflection of inchoativ:
    1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
    2. strong nominative/accusative plural
    3. weak nominative all-gender singular
    4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular