onset
/ˈɒnˌsɛt/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: onsets
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The initial phase of a disease or condition, in which symptoms first become apparent.
Noun
Examples
the onset of schizophrenia
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
The initial portion of a syllable, preceding the syllable nucleus.
Noun
Examples
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.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “onset” mean?
The initial phase of a disease or condition, in which symptoms first become apparent.
Is “onset” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.