S: (n) germination (the origin of some development) "the germination of their discontent"
S: (n) cause (events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something) "they are trying to determine the cause of the crash"
S: (n) preliminary, overture, prelude (something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows) "training is a necessary preliminary to employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner"
S: (n) emanation, rise, procession ((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"