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Incipient, adj.

Pronunciation: inˈsipēənt

Meaning: The word incipient refers to something that is in an initial stage. If something is beginning to happen or develop or emerge, that thing could be said to be incipient. The word often describes something that is not yet fully developed or even readily apparent, but whose beginnings can already be detected.

Usage:

• “The cardiologist detected signs of incipient heart disease.”
• “The professor noticed an incipient rebellion among his students.”
• “In late 2019, epidemiologists noticed incipient signs of a disease, originating from a lab in Wuhan China, even before large outbreaks were widely reported.”