exordium

[ ig-zawr-dee-uh m, ik-sawr- ]
/ ɪgˈzɔr di əm, ɪkˈsɔr- /

noun, plural ex·or·di·ums, ex·or·di·a [ig-zawr-dee-uh, ik-sawr-] /ɪgˈzɔr di ə, ɪkˈsɔr-/.

the beginning of anything.
the introductory part of an oration, treatise, etc.

Origin of exordium

1525–35; < Latin exōrdium, equivalent to ex- ex-1 + ōrd(īrī) to begin + -ium -ium

OTHER WORDS FROM exordium

ex·or·di·al, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for exordia

exordium
/ (ɛkˈsɔːdɪəm) /

noun plural -diums or -dia (-dɪə)

an introductory part or beginning, esp of an oration or discourse

Derived forms of exordium

exordial, adjective

Word Origin for exordium

C16: from Latin, from exōrdīrī to begin, from ōrdīrī to begin