The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Nascent \Nas"cent\ (n[a^]s"sent; n[=a]"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.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

            Nascent passions and anxieties.       --Berkley.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Chem.) Evolving; being evolved or produced; as, nascent
      oxygen.
      [1913 Webster]

   Nascent state (Chem.), the fleeting or momentary state of
      an uncombined atom or radical just separated from one
      compound, and not yet united with another, -- a
      hypothetical condition implying peculiarly active chemical
      properties; as, hydrogen in the nascent state is a strong
      reducer.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

nascent
    adj 1: being born or beginning; "the nascent chicks"; "a nascent
           insurgency" [ant: dying]