(n.) The first letter in the Greek alphabet, answering to A, and hence used to denote the beginning.

A beginning blast-off breaking-in commencement creation cutting edge dawn dawning edge establishment first first blush first glance first impression first inning first lap first move first round first sight first stage first step flying start foundation fresh start gambit genesis initial initiative institution jump-off kick-off le premier pas leading edge new departure oncoming onset opening opening move origin origination outbreak outset outstart prime primitiveness primitivity running start send-off setout setting in motion setting-up square one start start-off starting point take-off warming-up