ex|or|di|um

ex|or|di|um «ehg ZR dee uhm, ehk SR-», noun, plural -di|ums, -di|a «-dee uh».

1. the beginning.

2. the introductory part of a speech, treatise, or the like. SYNONYM(S): preamble.

╂[< Latin exōrdium < ex- + ōrdīrī begin (originally) a web]