Ex-ôr'di-ūm, n.

n.; Eng. pl. EX-ÔR'DI-ŪMS; Lat. pl. EX-ÔR'DI-A. [Lat. exordium, from exordiri, to begin a web, to lay a warp, to begin, from ex, out of, from, and ordiri, to begin a web, to begin; Fr. exorde, Sp. exordio, It. esordio.] The beginning of any thing; especially, the introductory part of a discourse, which prepares the audience for the main subject; the preface or proemial part of a composition. “The exordium of repentance.” I. Taylor. “Long prefaces and exordiums.” Addison.