Anything that provides inspiration for later work.

synonyms: seed, source.

Roget 66: beginning, commencement, opening, outset, incipience, inception, inchoation^†; introduction etc. (precursor) 64; alpha, initial; inauguration, debut, le premier pas, embarcation [Fr.], rising of the curtain; maiden speech; outbreak, onset, brunt; initiative, move, first move; narrow end of the wedge, thin end of the wedge; fresh start, new departure.    origin etc. (cause) 153; source, rise; bud, germ etc. 153; egg, rudiment; genesis, primogenesis^†, birth, nativity, cradle, infancy; start, inception, creation, starting point etc. 293; dawn etc. (morning) 125; evolution.    title-page; head, heading; van etc. (front) 234; caption, fatihah^†.    entrance, entry; inlet, orifice, mouth, chops, lips, porch, portal, portico, propylon^†, door; gate, gateway; postern, wicket, threshold, vestibule; propylaeum^†; skirts, border etc. (edge) 231.    first stage, first blush, first glance, first impression, first sight.    rudiments, elements, outlines, grammar, alphabet, ABC.    ... show more

Roget 153: cause, origin, source, principle, element; occasioner^†, prime mover, primum mobile [Lat.]; vera causa [Lat.]; author etc. (producer) 164; mainspring; agent; leaven; groundwork, foundation etc. (support) 215.    spring, fountain, well, font; fountainhead, spring head, wellhead; fons et origo [Lat.], genesis; descent etc. (paternity) 166; remote cause; influence.    pivot, hinge, turning point, lever, crux, fulcrum; key; proximate cause, causa causans [Lat.]; straw that breaks the camel's back.    ground; reason, reason why; why and wherefore, rationale, occasion, derivation; final cause etc. (intention) 620; les dessous des cartes [Fr.]; undercurrents.    rudiment.    egg, germ, embryo, bud, root, radix radical, etymon, nucleus, seed, stem, stock, stirps, trunk, tap-root, gemmule^†, radicle, semen, sperm.    nest, cradle, nursery, womb, nidus, birthplace, hotbed.    causality, causation; origination; production etc. 161.    ... show more

Roget 626: plan, scheme, design, project; proposal, proposition, suggestion; resolution, motion; precaution etc. (provision) 673; deep-laid plan etc. (premeditated) 611; system etc. (order) 58; organization etc. (arrangement) 60; germ etc. (cause) 153.    sketch, skeleton, outline, draught, draft, ebauche [Fr.], brouillon [Fr.]; rough cast, rough draft, draught copy; copy; proof, revise.    drawing, scheme, schematic, graphic, chart, flow chart (representation) 554.    forecast, program, programme, prospectus; carte du pays [Fr.]; card; bill, protocol; order of the day, list of agenda; bill of fare etc. (food) 298; base of operations; platform, plank, slate [U.S.], ticket [U.S.].    role; policy etc. (line of conduct) 692.    contrivance, invention, expedient, receipt, nostrum, artifice, device; pipelaying [U.S.]; stratagem etc. (cunning) 702; trick etc. (deception) 545; alternative, loophole; shift etc. (substitute) 147; last shift etc. (necessity) 601.    measure, step; stroke, stroke of policy; master stroke; trump card, court card; cheval de bataille [Fr.], great gun; coup, coup d'etat [Fr.]; clever stroke, bold stroke, good move, good hit, good stroke; bright thought, bright idea.    intrigue, cabal, plot, conspiracy, complot^†, machination; subplot, underplot^†, counterplot.    schemer, schemist^†, schematist^†; strategist, machinator; projector, artist, promoter, designer etc. v.; conspirator; intrigant etc. (cunning) 702^†.    ... show more

Roget 674: non-preparation, absence of preparation, want of preparation; inculture^†, inconcoction^†, improvidence.    immaturity, crudity; rawness etc. adj.; abortion; disqualification.    [Absence of art] nature, state of nature; virgin soil, unweeded garden; neglect etc. 460.    rough copy etc. (plan) 626; germ etc. 153; raw material etc. 635.    improvisation etc. (impulse) 612.    ... show more

Dutch: inspiratiebron

A small apparently simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism.

Dutch: kiem

A minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use.

synonyms: bug, microbe.

Dutch: insect, beestje, microbe, zaadkiem
Polish: bakcyl