Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget

incipience, inception, inchoation†; introduction &c (precursor) 64; alpha, initial; inauguration, debut, le premier pas, embarcation [Fr.], rising of the curtain; maiden speech; outbreak, onset, brunt; initiative, move, first move; narrow end of the wedge, thin end of the wedge; fresh start, new departure. origin &c (cause) 153; source, rise; bud, germ &c 153; egg, rudiment; genesis, primogenesis†, birth, nativity, cradle, infancy; start, inception, creation, starting point &c 293; dawn &c (morning) 125; evolution. title-page; head, heading; van &c (front) 234; caption, fatihah†. entrance, entry; inlet, orifice, mouth, chops, lips, porch, portal, portico, propylon†, door; gate, gateway; postern, wicket, threshold, vestibule; propylaeum†; skirts, border &c (edge) 231. first stage, first blush, first glance, first impression, first sight. rudiments, elements, outlines, grammar, alphabet, ABC. V. begin, start, commence; conceive, open, dawn, set in, take its rise, enter upon, enter; set out &c (depart) 293; embark in; incept†. initiate, launch, inaugurate. inchoate, rise, arise, originate. usher in; lead off, lead the way; take the lead, take the initiative; head; stand at the head, stand first, stand for; lay the foundations &c (prepare) 673; found &c (cause) 153; set up, set on foot, agoing†, set abroach†, set the ball in motion; apply the match to a train; broach; open up, open the door to. get underway, set about, get to work, set to work, set to; make a beginning, make a start. handsel; take the first step, lay the first stone, cut the first turf; break ground, break the ice, break cover; pass the Rubicon, cross the Rubicon; open fire, open the ball; ventilate, air; undertake &c 676. come into existence, come into the world; make one's debut, take birth; burst forth, break out; spring up, spring forth, crop up, pop up, appear, materialize. begin at the beginning, begin ab ovo [Lat.]. begin again, begin de novo; start afresh, make a fresh start, take it from the top, shuffle the cards, reshuffle the cards, resume, recommence. Adj. beginning &c v.; initial, initiatory, initiative; inceptive, introductory, incipient; proemial†, inaugural; inchoate, inchoative†; embryonic, rudimental; primogenial†; primeval, primitive, primordial &c (old) 124; aboriginal; natal, nascent. first, foremost, leading; maiden. begun &c v.; just begun &c v.. Adv. at the beginning, in the beginning, &c n.; first, in the first place, imprimis [Lat.], first and foremost; in limine [Lat.]; in the bud, in embryo, in its infancy; from the beginning, from its birth; ab initio [Lat.], ab ovo [Lat.], ab incunabilis [Lat.], ab origine [Lat.]. Phr. let's get going!, let's get this show on the road!, up and at 'em!; aller Anfang ist schwer [G.], dimidium facti qui coepit habet [Lat.] [Cicero]; omnium rerum principia parva sunt [Lat.] [Cicero].