online medical dictionary | definition of 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.

(01 Mar 1998)