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onset

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onset¹

  • /ˈɒnˌsɛt/ UK
  • /ˈɔnˌsɛt/
  • /ˈɑnˌsɛt/

Where it comes from

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).

noun onsets

  1. countable The initial phase of a disease or condition, in which symptoms first become apparent. the onset of schizophrenia
  2. The initial portion of a syllable, preceding the syllable nucleus. The only regular sources for Sardinian *θ are Lat. ci̯ and ti̯, which are absent from Latin onsets. This means that the substantial number of words starting in *θ, discussed in § 3 – 7, cannot regularly continue a Latin form.
  3. The beginning of a musical note or other sound, in which the amplitude rises from zero to an initial peak.
  4. A setting about; a beginning. the onset of puberty

    Similar: start, beginning, birth, font, fount, inauguration, commencement, initiation, launch, source, spring, springtime

  5. obsolete Anything added, such as an ornament or as a useful appendage. And will with deeds requite thy gentleness: And, for an onset, Titus, to advance Thy name and honourable family, Lavinia will I make my empress.
  6. archaic An attack; an assault especially of an army. Heralds, from off our towers, we might behold From first to last, the onset and retire Of both your armies

    Similar: storming

verb onsets · onsetting · onset

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

Onset²

proper noun

  1. A census-designated place in the town of Wareham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: attack, onslaught, onrush, oncoming, rash, outbreak, flare-up, outburst, break-up, burst, departure, booting, emergence, stroke, rise, turn

Translations

Every language

noun (acoustics) beginning of a musical note

Françaisattaque
DeutschAnstieg, Einschwingvorgang, Anstrich

noun (medicine) initial phase of a disease or condition

Españolprincipio
Portuguêsanábase
Françaisdébut, apparition
DeutschAnzeichen
Românădebut

noun (phonology) initial portion of a syllable

Españolataque silábico, inicio silábico
한국어음절초 eumjeolcho
Portuguêsataque
Françaisattaque
DeutschSilbenansatz, Silbenanfang, Silbenanlaut
Italianoattacco
Русскийпри́ступ prístup

noun setting about, beginning

Françaisdéclenchement, début

noun (archaic) attack, assault

Españolarremetida
Portuguêsinvestida
Françaisassaut, attaque
DeutschAngriff, Ansturm
Românăasalt, atac
Русскийата́ка atáka, наступле́ние nastuplénije, на́тиск nátisk

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MLA

"onset." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/onset. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

onset. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/onset

Chicago

"onset." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/onset.

BibTeX
@misc{onset_2026,
  title = {onset},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/onset},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}