Very beginning (4)
I believe the answer is:
seed
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">very beginning</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for seed that I've seen before include "High-ranked player in a knock-out tournament" , "Top competitor" , "It can develop into a plant" , "Top Wimbledon player" , "Local escorted" .)