| EPIGRAPH | Motto or quotation at the beginning of a book (8) |
| EPIGRAPHS | Quotations at the beginning of books |
| CRACKERS | Party favours pulled with a bang to reveal paper hats and mottos; or, savoury biscuits for cheese (8) |
| LEGEND | Traditional story or one of a saint's life; a motto or caption with a picture; a hero; or, an inscription on a coin (6) |
| BOOKPLATE | A decorative label bearing the identifying coat of arms, crest, ex libris, motto or simply the name of the owner of the tome in which it is pasted (9) |
| PREFACE | Introduction at the beginning of a book; foreword (7) |
| FLYLEAF | Blank page at the beginning of a book |
| EXCERPT | A passage or quotation taken or selected from a book or document. (7) |
| POSY | From an old word for verse collectively, a small floral bouquet, nosegay or tussie mussie, often given as a gift; or, a little motto or sentiment inscribed inside a ring (4) |
| GENESIS | Beginning of a book of the Bible (7) |
| ASPIRATE | Pronounce the letter H at the beginning of a word (8) |
| STARTLED | Getting a fright at the beginning of a journey (8) |
| STORMING | Getting a fright at the beginning of a journey (8) |
| DEVICE | A plan, plot, scheme or trick; any contraption, contrivance, gimmick, gismo, tool or waldo; an ornamental design, embroidery pattern, heraldic emblem or motto; or, a bomb (6) |
| BESEATED | Directive to a congregation at the beginning of a service |
| ALTOCLEF | Staff symbol at the beginning of a viola piece |
| AMOK | Any motto or keyword starts in a murderous frenzy (4) |
| SLOGAN | Motto or catchphrase used in advertising or politics (6) |
| FORTUNECOOKIES | Wafers cracked open to reveal a motto or prophecy |
| START | Old English "caper, fling, leap, plunge headlong", today a commencement or a sudden movement of surprise; dawn or sunrise; or, the beginning of a journey or a race, perhaps for a prize (5) |
