outset
     n : the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got
         an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was
         the man for her" [syn: {beginning}, {commencement}, {first},
          {get-go}, {start}, {kickoff}, {starting time}, {showtime},
          {offset}] [ant: {middle}, {end}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0