Nas"cent (?), 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.