noun
the point at which something begins its course or existence
the source of her wisdom was long practical experience
Synonyms: derivation, fount, fountain, fountainhead, inception, mother, origin, provenance, provenience, root, rootage, rootstock, spring, well, wellhead, wellspring, whence
Related Word: birthplace; beginning, commencement, dawn, dawning, onset, opening, start, starting; authorship, origination, rise, rising; antecedent, cause, determinant; parent, paternity
Contrasted words: end, ending, terminus
Antonyms: termination; outcome