Main Entry: ex·or·di·um

Pronunciation: \eg-ˈzȯr-dē-əm\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural ex·or·diums or -dia\-dē-ə\

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

Date: 1577

: a beginning or introduction especially to a discourse or composition

— ex·or·di·al \-dē-əl\ adjective