inchoate

Meanings

1. Recently started but not fully formed yet; just begun; only elementary or immature.
2. Chaotic, disordered, confused; also, incoherent, rambling.
3. Of a crime, imposing criminal liability for an incompleted act.

1. A beginning, an immature start.

1. To begin or start (something).
2. To cause or bring about. In the field of criminology, to encourage, assist, conspire, aid and abet, incite, etc.
3. To make a start.

Etymology

The adjective is first attested in 1534, the verb circa 1631; borrowed from Latin incohātus (“begun, unfinished”), perfect passive participle of incohō (“to begin”), see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3). Cognate with Spanish incoar (“to initiate, commence, begin”).