adj.
Pronunciation: in- ' k ō - ə t, ' in-k ə - ˌ w ā t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin inchoatus, past participle of inchoare to start work on, perhaps from in- + cohum part of a yoke to which the beam of a plow is fitted
Date: 1534
: being only partly in existence or operation : INCIPIENT especially : imperfectly formed or formulated : FORMLESS , INCOHERENT <misty, inchoate suspicions that all is not well with the nation ― J. M. Perry>
– in · cho · ate · ly adverb
– in · cho · ate · ness noun