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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.

The descent of the moon below the horizon; also, the time when the moon sets.

An onset, attack, or fit of disease. The first access looked like an apoplexy. Burnet.

A furious onset or attack. [Obs.] Spenser.

A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons, etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset; as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town. The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault. Prescott. Unshaken bears the assault Of their most dreaded foe, the strong southwe…

To make an onset or attack.

portend to presage; to foreshow. A raven that bodes nothing but mischief. Goldsmith. Good onset bodes good end. Spenser.

The heat, or utmost violence, of an onset; the strength or greatest fury of any contention; as, the brunt of a battle.

To make an onset or rush; as, to charge with fixed bayonets. Like your heroes of antiquity, he charges in iron. Glanvill. "Charge for the guns!" he said. Tennyson.

A rapid movement, esp. one of short duration; a quick stroke or blow; a sudden onset or rush; as, a bold dash at the enemy; a dash of rain. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. Shak.

To protect, as a line of troops, against an onset of cavalry, by opposing bayonets raised obliquely forward. Wilhelm.

The act of leaping on; onset; attack. [Obs.] Dryden.

A taking by surprise; an unexpected onset or attack. Carew.

An attack; an onset; esp., a furious or murderous attack or assault. By storm and onslaught to proceed. Hudibras.

ly, one who acts as another's aid in a duel. Being sure enough of seconds after the first onset. Sir H. Wotton.

dlock; as, to be at a dead set. (c) A concerted scheme to defraud by gaming; a determined onset. -- To make a dead set, to make a determined onset, literally or figuratively.

violent impulse; a blow, impact, or collision; a concussion; a sudden violent impulse or onset. These strong, unshaken mounds resist the shocks Of tides and seas tempestuous. Blackmore. He stood the shock of a whole host of foes. Addison.

d his appearance rightly. There is no greater wisdom than well to time the beginnings and onsets of things. Bacon.

Onset; rush; violent draught or wind. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Not able to resist external force or onset; easily subdued or overcome; as, a weak barrier; as, a weak fortress.