What does "onset" mean?
Onset: A setting about; a beginning. [Obs.] Shak. There is surely no greater wisdom than well to time the beginnings and onsets of things. Bacon.
Additional senses
- 2.Anything set on, or added, as an ornament or as a useful appendage. [Obs.] Johnson.
- 3.To assault; to set upon. [Obs.]
- 4.To set about; to begin. [Obs.] Carew.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
- Canonical URL: https://worddirectanswers.com/answers/what-does-onset-mean
- Steward: Jason Burns
- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00