| nascent | 1. Commencing, or in process of development; beginning to exist or to grow; coming into being; as, a nascent germ. "Nascent passions and anxieties." (Berkley) 2. <chemistry> Evolving; being evolved or produced. <chemistry> Nascent state, the supposed instantaneous or momentary state of an uncombined atom or radical just separated from one compound acid, and not yet united with another, a hypothetical condition implying peculiarly active chemical properties; as, hydrogen in the nascent state is a strong reducer. Origin: L. Nascens, -entis, p.pr. Nasci to be born. See Nation, and cf. Naissant. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
|---|