onset
UK: ˈɒnset | US: ˈɑːnset
n. the beginning or start of something, especially something unpleasant
n. (medicine) the initial appearance of symptoms or disease
n. (linguistics) the initial consonant or consonant cluster of a syllable
The word "onset" combines the preposition "on" (from Old English "on," meaning "upon") and the verb "set" (from Old English "settian," meaning "to place"). Originally, it referred to an attack or assault ("setting upon"), but over time, it broadened to signify any forceful or sudden beginning. The modern sense retains the idea of something commencing, often with intensity or abruptness.
The onset of winter brought heavy snowfall to the region.
Early detection can delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
In the word "strength," the onset is the consonant cluster "str."
The sudden onset of the storm caught everyone by surprise.
Researchers studied the onset of symptoms in infected patients.