During the period of transition from wakefulness to sleep, which Kellaway has termed the oscitant state, there is a gradual increase in the amplitude of slow components of the EEG.
Rising up in oscitant mood, I swallowed a penny piece, which I had between my teeth, and then went home with an empty purse.
We are ready to give ourselves credit for the sagacity of this conjecture; else we should be but ill disposed to pardon that oscitant appearance which such a dreamy disposition must give to the most valuable materials.
The keeper of a thing so nimble must not sleep, he must not be oscitant, but very intent upon his charge.