onset
/ˈɒnˌsɛt/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms onsets onsetting
- noun (medicine, countable) The initial phase of a disease or condition, in which symptoms first become apparent. “the onset of schizophrenia”
- noun (phonology) The initial portion of a syllable, preceding the syllable nucleus.
- noun (acoustics) The beginning of a musical note or other sound, in which the amplitude rises from zero to an initial peak.
- noun A setting about; a beginning. “the onset of puberty”
- noun (obsolete) Anything added, such as an ornament or as a useful appendage.
- noun (archaic) An attack; an assault especially of an army.
- verb (obsolete) To assault; to set upon.
- verb (obsolete) To set about; to begin.
- proper noun A census-designated place in the town of Wareham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States.
Synonyms
start beginning birth font fount inauguration commencement initiation launch source spring springtime origin origination youth storming oncoming attack onslaught onrush
Etymology
From on- + set. Compare Old English onsettan (“to impose; oppress, bear down”). For semantic parallels for the meaning to assault, compare cognate Russian насе́сть pf (naséstʹ), наседа́ть impf (nasedátʹ).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A rushing or setting upon; an attack; an assault; a storming; especially, the assault of an army. Milton.
- noun A setting about; a beginning. [Obs.] Shak.
- verb To assault; to set upon. [Obs.]
- verb To set about; to begin. [Obs.] Carew.
Etymology [On + set.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “onset”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details