INCEPTIVE

, of Magnitude, a term used by Dr. Wallis, to express such moments, or first principles, as, though of no magnitude themselves, are yet capable of producing such as are. See Infinite, and INDIVISIBLE. Thus, a point has no magnitude itself, but is inceptive of a line, which it produces by its motion. Also a line, though it has no breadth, is yet Inceptive of breadth; that is, it is capable, by its motion, of producing a surface, which has breadth.