inchoate
UK: ɪnˈkəʊ.eɪt | US: ɪnˈkoʊ.eɪt
adj. 1. just begun and not fully formed; rudimentary.
adj. 2. imperfectly developed or unclear.
The word "inchoate" originates from Latin inchoatus (past participle of incohare), meaning "to begin." The prefix in- implies "into," while cohare (or cohum, a plow handle) metaphorically suggests "to start work" (as in plowing a field). Over time, the term evolved to describe something in its early, undeveloped stages, retaining its sense of incompleteness in modern English.
The artist’s inchoate sketches hinted at a brilliant final piece.
Their plans for the project were still inchoate, lacking clear direction.
The theory remained inchoate, needing further research.
She expressed her inchoate ideas during the brainstorming session.
The inchoate stages of the startup were fraught with uncertainty.