onset

Plural: onsets

Noun

• The beginning or start of something, especially unpleasant.
• the beginning or early stages
  • "the onset of pneumonia"
• (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
• The initial phase of a disease or condition, in which symptoms first become apparent.
• The initial portion of a syllable, preceding the syllable nucleus.
• The beginning of a musical note or other sound, in which the amplitude rises from zero to an initial peak.
• A setting about; a beginning.
• Anything added, such as an ornament or as a useful appendage.
• An attack; an assault especially of an army.

Verb

• To assault; to set upon.
• To set about; to begin.

Examples

• From the onset of the game, he knew victory was within reach.
• the onset of puberty
• the onset of schizophrenia

Synonyms

attack, oncoming, onrush, onslaught, beginning, birth, commencement, font, fount, inauguration, initiation, launch, onset, origin, origination, source, spring, springtime, start, storming, youth