Beginning & Ending Vocabulary

just beginning to develop; not yet fully formed

“The nascent technology showed enormous promise.”

Origin: Latin: nascens (being born), from nasci (to be born)

in an initial stage; beginning to happen

“He detected the incipient signs of revolution.”

Origin: Latin: incipiens (beginning), from incipere (to begin)

in an early stage of development

“The plan was still in its embryonic stage.”

Origin: Greek: embryon (unborn offspring), en (in) + bryein (to swell)

relating to the earliest stage of development

“These were the germinal ideas that would transform the field.”

Origin: Latin: germen (sprout, bud)

new and inexperienced; emerging

“The fledgling democracy faced many challenges.”

Origin: Old English: flycge (young bird), from fleogan (to fly)

no longer existing or functioning

“The defunct company's assets were sold at auction.”

Origin: Latin: defunctus (finished, dead), from defungi (to discharge, finish)

no longer produced or used; out of date

“Digital cameras made film cameras obsolete.”

Origin: Latin: obsoletus (worn out), from obsolescere (to fall into disuse)

at the point of death; lacking vitality

“The moribund industry struggled to attract investment.”

Origin: Latin: moribundus (dying), from mori (to die)

forming a very small remnant of something that was once greater

“The appendix is a vestigial organ in humans.”

Origin: Latin: vestigium (footprint, trace)

to reach a climax or point of highest development

“Years of work culminated in this breakthrough.”

Origin: Latin: culminare (to crown), from culmen (top, summit)

a point where great change or disaster occurs

“The company stood on the precipice of bankruptcy.”

Origin: Latin: praecipitium (steep place), from praeceps (headlong, steep)

an event marking a turning point

“The invention of the internet was a watershed moment.”

Origin: Old English: wæter (water) + scead (divide, separation)