It's Merriam-Webster's word of the day for January 1st.

Today's word is incipient, spelled I N-C-I-E-N-T. Incipient is an adjective. It's used to describe things which are beginning to come into being or which are to become

apparent. Here's the word used in a sentence from USA Today by John Stojan.

While still in its incipient stages working with AI will also become more important over the years.

Automated systems are at the core of many things, from streaming apps and video games to online shopping platforms and

navigation tools. Where to begin with the word incipient? Well, there's its

meaning for one. Incipient describes something that is beginning to come into being or to become apparent, as in the incipient stages of the process.

And of course, a good starting point for any investigation of incipient is also the Latin verb in Kuiperi, which means to begin.

Incipient emerged in English in the 17th century, appearing in both religious and scientific contexts,

as in incipient grace and incipient putrification.

Later came the genesis of two related nouns, incipiency and incipients, both of which are synonymous with the word beginning.

In Kuipera's influence is also visible at the beginning of the words inception, meaning an act process or

instance of beginning, and insipit, a term that in Latin literally means it begins and

which refers in English to the opening words of a

medieval manuscript or early printed book. With your word of the day I'm Peter

Sokolowski.

Visit Marion Webster. Webster.com today for definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups.