Definition of: inceptive

(in·sep′tiv) adjective
1. Noting the beginning or commencement of an action or occurrence; initial.
2. Gram. Referring to a class of verbs or to the aspect of a verb denoting the commencement of an action; inchoative; ingressive. In Latin, for example, such verbs are formed by the addition of –scere to the present stem, as cale(scere), to grow warm, from cale(re), to be hot.
—noun
1. That which tends to commence, as an inceptive word or construction.
2. Gram. An inceptive word or construction. [<OF inceptif <L inceptus, pp. of incipere. See INCEPT.]
—in·cep′tive·ly adverb