exordium


Also found in: Thesaurus, Legal, Wikipedia.

ex·or·di·um

 (ĭg-zôr′dē-əm, ĭk-sôr′-)
n. pl. ex·or·di·ums or ex·or·di·a (-dē-ə)
A beginning or introductory part, especially of a speech or treatise.
[Latin, from exōrdīrī, to begin : ex-, intensive pref.; see ex- + ōrdīrī, to begin; see ar- in Indo-European roots.]
ex·or′di·al adj.

exordium

(ɛkˈsɔːdɪəm)
n, pl -diums or -dia (-dɪə)
(Rhetoric) an introductory part or beginning, esp of an oration or discourse
[C16: from Latin, from exōrdīrī to begin, from ōrdīrī to begin]
exˈordial adj

ex•or•di•um

(ɪgˈzɔr di əm, ɪkˈsɔr-)

n., pl. -di•ums, -di•a (-di ə)
an introductory part, as of an oration or treatise.
[1525–35; < Latin exōrdium <exōrd(īrī) to begin]
ex•or′di•al, adj.

exordium

the beginning or introductory part of a book or other printed work, or of a discourse.
See also: Books, Rhetoric and Rhetorical Devices
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.exordium - (rhetoric) the introductory section of an oration or discourse
rhetoric - study of the technique and rules for using language effectively (especially in public speaking)
introduction - the first section of a communication
Mentioned in ?
References in classic literature ?
Similarly, in the case of speeches, the exordium is prior in order to the narrative.
View in context
It will readily be surmised from this exordium that--incredible as it may seem in a man of thirty--this was my first visit to Paris.
View in context
I confess I was startled, notwithstanding your delicate exordium.
View in context
I trembled violently at his exordium, and my father continued-- "I confess, my son, that I have always looked forward to your marriage with our dear Elizabeth as the tie of our domestic comfort and the stay of my declining years.
View in context
There was something charmingly cordial and engaging in the manner in which after saying "Now, Handel," as if it were the grave beginning of a portentous business exordium, he had suddenly given up that tone, stretched out his honest hand, and spoken like a schoolboy.
View in context
He complicated this exordium by an exposition in which he painted the power and the deeds of the cardinal, that incomparable minister, that conqueror of past minister, that conqueror of past ministers, that example for ministers to come--deeds and power which none could thwart with impunity.
View in context
A glance at the king after this discreet and subtle exordium, assured Villefort of the benignity of his august auditor, and he went on: --
View in context
Stubb's exordium to his crew is given here at large, because he had rather a peculiar way of talking to them in general, and especially in inculcating the religion of rowing.
View in context
This exordium, and Miss Pross's two hands in quite agonised entreaty clasping his, decided Mr.
View in context
Brooke heard the laughter; but he had expected some Tory efforts at disturbance, and he was at this moment additionally excited by the tickling, stinging sense that his lost exordium was coming back to fetch him from the Baltic.
View in context
With this exordium, Mr Ralph Nickleby took a newspaper from his pocket, and after unfolding it, and looking for a short time among the advertisements, read as follows:
View in context
When this dreadful exordium was over, and Tungay had stumped out again, Mr.
View in context

Dictionary browser ?
Full browser ?