inchoate

  • 1inchoate — in·cho·ate /in kō ət, iŋ kō ˌāt/ adj 1 a: not yet made complete, certain, or specific: not perfected see also inchoate lien at lien b: not yet transformed into actual use or possession until an emplo …

    Law dictionary

  • 2inchoate — means ‘undeveloped’ or ‘just begun’ and is derived from the Latin word choare ‘to begin’: • It was obviously necessary that we should continue our still inchoate discussion over a drink D. M. Davin, 1975 • She is not allowed to express her real,… …

    Modern English usage

  • 3Inchoate — In cho*ate, a. [L. inchoatus, better incohatus, p. p. of incohare to begin.] Recently, or just, begun; beginning; partially but not fully in existence or operation; existing in its elements; incomplete. {In cho*ate*ly}, adv. [1913 Webster]… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4Inchoate — In cho*ate, v. t. To begin. [Obs.] Dr. H. More. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5inchoate — (adj.) 1530s, from L. inchoatus, pp. of inchoare, alteration of incohare to begin, originally to hitch up, from in on (see IN (Cf. in ) (2)) + cohum strap fastened to the oxen s yoke. Related: Inchoative …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6inchoate — [adj] undeveloped, beginning amorphous, elementary, embryonic, formless, immature, imperfect, inceptive, incipient, just begun, nascent, preliminary, rudimentary, shapeless, unfinished, unformed, unshaped; concepts 485,578,797 Ant. developed,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 7inchoate — ► ADJECTIVE 1) not fully formed or developed; rudimentary. 2) confused or incoherent. DERIVATIVES inchoately adverb. ORIGIN from Latin inchoare, variant of incohare begin …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8inchoate — [in kō′it, in kō′āt΄] adj. [L inchoatus, incohatus, pp. of inchoare, incohare, to begin, orig. rural term “hitch up, harness” < in , in + cohum, the strap from plow beam to yoke < IE base * kagh , to hold, enclose > HEDGE] 1. just begun; …

    English World dictionary

  • 9Inchoate — A state of activity or entitlement that is characterized by partial completion of an intended outcome or status. The notion of inchoate comes into play most often in a legal sense, as it could refer to an inchoate transaction between two parties …

    Investment dictionary

  • 10inchoate — [[t]ɪnko͟ʊɪt[/t]] ADJ If something is inchoate, it is recent or new, and vague or not yet properly developed. [FORMAL] His dreams were senseless and inchoate. ...the inchoate mood of dissatisfaction with all politicians. Syn: incoherent …

    English dictionary