exordium
Americannoun
plural
exordiums, exordia-
the beginning of anything.
-
the introductory part of an oration, treatise, etc.
noun
Other Word Forms
- exordial adjective
Etymology
Origin of exordium
1525–35; < Latin exōrdium, equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + ōrd ( īrī ) to begin + -ium -ium
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Their invitation Dr. Fosdick expressed in a great exordium: The great east window of Chicago's Fourth Presbyterian Church has long needed proper furbishing in stained glass.
From Time Magazine Archive
I trembled violently at his exordium, and my father continued—
From "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley
The purpose of the exordium is to put the audience into a receptive and attentive frame of mind.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
Humphrey had sat silent under this exordium, his head bent and his eyes on the ground.
From The Honour of the Clintons by Marshall, Archibald
The exordium was bad enough; he hastened towards the end of the business.
From The Slaves of the Padishah by J?kai, M?r
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
