beginning - the event consisting of the start of something; "the beginning of the war"

germination - the origin of some development; "the germination of their discontent"

cause - events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something; "they are trying to determine the cause of the crash"

prelude, overture, preliminary - something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; "training is a necessary preliminary to employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner"

procession, emanation, rise - (theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; "the emanation of the Holy Spirit"; "the rising of the Holy Ghost"; "the doctrine of the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son"

commencement, start, beginning - the act of starting something; "he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations"

authorship, paternity - the act of initiating a new idea or theory or writing; "the authorship of the theory is disputed"