exordium

noun

ex·​or·​di·​um eg-ˈzȯr-dē-əm 

plural exordiums or exordia eg-ˈzȯr-dē-ə 

: a beginning or introduction especially to a discourse or composition

exordial

eg-ˈzȯr-dē-əl 

adjective

Synonyms

• foreword
• intro
• introduction
• preamble
• preface
• prelude
• proem
• prologue
• prolog
• prolusion

Examples of exordium in a Sentence

in his exordium the author warns his readers that they should expect a radically different interpretation of the causes of the war

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from exordiri to begin, from ex- + ordiri to begin — more at order

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above