1. 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. 2. A setting about; a beginning. [Obs.] Shak.
There is surely no greater wisdom than well to time the beginnings and onsets of things.
Bacon. 3. Anything set on, or added, as an ornament or as a useful appendage. [Obs.] Johnson.
Onset
(On"set`), v. t.
1. To assault; to set upon. [Obs.]
2. To set about; to begin. [Obs.] Carew.
Onslaught
(On"slaught`) n. [OE. on on + slaught, slaht, slaughter. See Slaughter.]
1. An attack; an onset; esp., a furious or murderous attack or assault.
By storm and onslaught to proceed.
Hudibras. 2. A bloody fray or battle. [Scot.] Jamieson.
Onstead
(On"stead) n. [Possibly a corruption of homestead.] A single farmhouse; a steading. [Prov.Eng.
& Scot.] Grose. Jamieson.
Onto
(On"to) prep. [On + to. Cf. Into.] On the top of; upon; on. See On to, under On, prep.
