好词典

inchoate

UK //ɪnˈkəʊ.eɪt//US //ɪnˈkoʊ.eɪt//

词源

源自拉丁语 'inchoatus'(过去分词形式),原意为'开始',由 'in-'(进入)和 'cohum'(犁的轭)组成,暗喻耕作开始的意象。

adjective

❶ 形容事物处于刚开始形成的阶段,尚未发展完全或不够成熟,通常指想法、计划或组织等抽象概念。

“Her inchoate ideas about starting a business needed more development.”

(她关于创业的初步想法还需要进一步细化。)

“The novel was still in an inchoate stage, with only a rough outline.”

(这部小说仍处于雏形阶段,只有一个粗略的大纲。)

同义词:nascent, rudimentary, embryonic, undeveloped, incipient

常见短语

inchoate offense — 法律术语,指尚未完全实施的犯罪行为,如未遂或预备阶段的行为。

“The suspect was charged with an inchoate offense for planning the robbery.”

(嫌疑人因策划抢劫而被指控为未遂犯罪。)