Noun

(en noun)

A rushing or setting upon; an attack; an assault; a storming; especially, the assault of an army.

* (rfdate) (William Shakespeare),

The onset and retire / Of both your armies.

* (rfdate) (William Wordsworth),

Who on that day the word of onset gave.

(medicine) The initial phase of a disease or condition, in which symptoms first become apparent.

(phonology) The initial portion of a syllable, preceding the syllable nucleus.

(acoustics) The beginning of a musical note or other sound, in which the amplitude rises from zero to an initial peak.

(obsolete) A setting about; a beginning.

* (rfdate) (Francis Bacon),

There is surely no greater wisdom than well to time the beginnings and onsets of things.

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

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=28, magazine=(The Economist)

, title= High and wet , passage=Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale. The early, intense onset of the monsoon on June 14th swelled rivers, washing away roads, bridges, hotels and even whole villages. Rock-filled torrents smashed vehicles and homes, burying victims under rubble and sludge.}}

(Shakespeare)

(Johnson)

Noun

(en noun)

The act of appearing or coming into sight; the act of becoming visible to the eye.

A thing seen; a phenomenon; an apparition.

Personal presence; look; aspect; mien.

* (John Milton) (1608-1674)

And now am come to see . . . It thy appearance answer loud report.

*{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)

, chapter=5, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite.

Apparent likeness; external show; how something appears to others.

* Bible, (w) ix. 15

There was upon the tabernacle, as it were, the appearance of fire.

* Bible, 1 (w) xvi. 7

For man looketh on the outward appearance .

* Bible, (w) vii. 24

Judge not according to the appearance .

The act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a company, or any proceedings; a coming before the public in a particular character.

* (John Milton) (1608-1674)

Will he now retire, After appearance , and again prolong Our expectation?

(legal) The coming into court of either of the parties; the being present in court; the coming into court of a party summoned in an action, either by himself or by his attorney, expressed by a formal entry by the proper officer to that effect; the act or proceeding by which a party proceeded against places himself before the court, and submits to its jurisdiction.

(medical) Chiefly used by nurses: the act of defecation by a patient.