onset

Meaning

Noun

1. An attack; an assault especially of an army.
2. The initial phase of a disease or condition, in which symptoms first become apparent.
3. The initial portion of a syllable, preceding the syllable nucleus.
4. The beginning of a musical note or other sound, in which the amplitude rises from zero to an initial peak.
5. A setting about; a beginning.
6. (obsolete) Anything added, such as an ornament or as a useful appendage.

Verb

1. (obsolete) To assault; to set upon.
2. (obsolete) To set about; to begin.

Synonyms

beginning

start

attack

👊

onslaught

onrush

assault

commencement

inception

outset

charge

first

1st

initiation

initial

aggression

oncoming

invasion

dash

💨

brunt

opening

origin

outbreak

pileup

pounce

press

push back

rollback

rush

sally

shot

storm

strafe

strike

swoop

first part

onfall

access

first motion

initial motion

first swing

application

disease development

approach

begin

beginnings

burst

cause

eruption

from the beginning

head

incipience

incursion

initialize

initiate

initiative

inroad

irruption

offence

offense

Hyphenated as

on‧set

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɒnˌsɛt/

Etymology

Cognate with Old English: onsettan

In summary

From on- + set. Compare Old English onsettan (“to impose; oppress, bear down”).