Nas″cent (–sent), a. [L. nascens, -entis, p. pr. nasci to be born. See Nation, and cf. Naissant.] 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. (Chem.) Evolving; being evolved or produced.
Nascent state(Chem.), 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.