Exordia

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Exordium \Ex*or"di*um\ (-[u^]m), n.; pl. E. {Exordiums}
     (-[u^]mz), L. {Exordia} (-[.a]). [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.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  exordia
       See {exordium}

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  exordium
       n : (rhetoric) the introductory section of an oration or
           discourse
       [also: {exordia} (pl)]