The initial or rudimentary stage; the earliest proceedings. Often in plural.

figurative. First days, beginning, first taste, prelude. (Also in singular.) Obsolete.

Twilight, dusk.

figurative. An early stage of something. Cf. infancy, n. 3.

figurative. The earliest period in the history of anything capable of development; the initial and rudimentary stage in any process of growth.

In plural. The imperfect beginnings of some (material or immaterial) thing; an embryonic stage; those parts which are the foundation of later growth…

The very beginning, the earliest stage; a starting point, an introduction; (also) a source or origin.

In plural. The earliest stages; the beginnings. Obsolete. rare.

Beginning, commencement; origination; initial or early stage.

(plural) Initial circumstances; beginnings. Obsolete.

The earliest stages or first traces in the development of anything.

a (first) small step.

as n. A beginning, rudiment. rare.

The quality or state of being incipient; incipience.

Beginning, commencement, origination; the fact or condition of being incipient or in an early stage; with plural, a beginning, a first step or stage.