(pronounced NAY-suhnt OR NAS-suhnt)

This word always makes us think of nasty nasal cavities, but we digress… This odd little word is an adjective meaning emerging or coming / having recently come into existence or being. (See – not a nostril in sight. Maybe we’re the weird ones.)

Example: When sustainable design and green building was a nascent concept within the construction industry, clients were slow to accept it as they tended to look only at initial expense rather than long-term savings.