A rushing or setting upon; an attack; an assault; a storming; especially, the assault of an army. Milton. The onset and retire Of both your armies. Shak. Who on that day the word of onset gave. Wordsworth.
A setting about; a beginning. [Obs.] Shak. There is surely no greater wisdom than well to time the beginnings and onsets of things. Bacon.
Anything set on, or added, as an ornament or as a useful appendage. [Obs.] Johnson.
To assault; to set upon. [Obs.]
To set about; to begin. [Obs.] Carew.
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