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Webster 1913 Edition

Exordium

Ex-or′di-um

(-ŭm)
,
Noun.
;
pl. E.
Exordiums
(-ŭmz)
, L.
Exordia
(-ȧ)
.
[L. fr.
exordiri
to begin a web, lay a warp, begin;
ex
out +
ordiri
to begin a web, begin; akin to E.
order
. See
Order
.]
A beginning; an introduction; especially, the introductory part of a discourse or written composition, which prepares the audience for the main subject; the opening part of an oration.
“The exordium of repentance.”
Jer. Taylor.
“Long prefaces and exordiums. ”
Addison.

Webster 1828 Edition

Exordium

EXORD'IUM

,
Noun.
plu.
exordiums. [L. from exodior; ex and ordior, to begin. See Order.] In oratory, the beginning; the introductory part of a discourse, which prepares the audience for the main subject; the preface or proemial part of a composition. The exordium may be formal and deliberate, or abrupt and vehement, according to the nature of the subject and occasion.

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