ONSET • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Onset

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/ˈɑnsˌɛt/ /ˈɔnsˌɛt/ Listen

noun

Onset n.

A rushing or setting upon; an attack; an assault; a storming; especially, the assault of an army. "The onset and retire Of both your armies." "Who on that day the word of onset gave."

A setting about; a beginning; used especially of diseases or pathological symptoms. "There is surely no greater wisdom than well to time the beginnings and onsets of things."

Anything set on, or added, as an ornament or as a useful appendage. (Obs.)

verb

Onset v. t.

To assault; to set upon. (Obs.)

To set about; to begin. (Obs.)

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Etymology of 'Onset'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Onset" Quotes from Famous Books

... maintained after the first onset. Every man seemed to fight for his own hand. Crossing and re-crossing and firing recklessly in all directions, it seemed a very miracle that no fatal accidents occurred. Minor ones there were. Archie and his nautical comrade witnessed a ...

— The Buffalo Runners - A Tale of the Red River Plains • R.M. Ballantyne

... your eyelids? Once, like you, I too was young; From the first is life a struggle, and fresh youth its Berserk-gang. Hardly pressed and tried it must be, that its onset triumph not; I have proved you and forgiven. I have pitied ...

— Fridthjof's Saga • Esaias Tegner

... spirit of persecution, the spirit of authority aroused, ignorance and vanity and foolishness would make themselves companions, no doubt. Should Truth succumb to these? Should Love retreat before the fierce onset of Hate? These brave men said not so. And they looked above them and all human aid ...

— Atlantic Monthly, Volume 6, Issue 35, September, 1860 • Various

... or how was it possible for a few hundred exhausted men to conquer as many thousands! The English crossbows, which did such execution, were most likely stationed at some pass in the rocky hills of which there are many, and their sudden and unexpected onset must have sent forth the panic which caused the subsequent destruction ...

— Barn and the Pyrenees - A Legendary Tour to the Country of Henri Quatre • Louisa Stuart Costello

... resolute survivors closing in. Toward evening the attack of the French, repeated and resisted so bravely, slackened in its fury. They had other foes besides the British to engage, or were preparing for a final onset. It came at last: the columns of the Imperial Guard marched up the hill of Saint Jean, at length and at once to sweep the English from the height which they had maintained all day; and spite of all, unscared by the thunder of the artillery, which ...

— The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. VI (of X)--Great Britain and Ireland IV • Various

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