Inchoate \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. Neither a substance perfect, nor a substance inchoate. --Raleigh. web1913

inchoate adj : only partly in existence; imperfectly formed; "incipient civil disorder"; "an incipient tumor"; "a vague inchoate idea" [syn: {incipient}] wn