English → Latin
“exordium” in Latin
exōrdiumbeginning, commencement; introduction, preface, start or beginning of a speech; foundation, creationexōrdiorto begin, commence (originally in weaving)prooemiuma preface, introduction, prelude; a beginningcōgitōto think; to ponder, meditate, reflect, consider (i.e. think of, about, over); to intend, design, purpose, plan, devise
The English word exordium itself goes back to Latin ōrdior, through exordium.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
exordium
exordium (introduction or opening of a speech, Cic.): exorsus, us (only once; exorsus orationis meae, Cic., De Imp. Pomp., 4, 11): prooemium (Cic., Cluent., 21; mostly = introduction to the subject to be treated of, e.g., in a philosophical treatise). To consider vfhat my exordium is to be, cogitare, quo utar exordio (Cic.). ☞ Praefatio is used by Cic., and Livy in the sense of a solemn form pronounced before some public act, etc.; in Quintilian and Pliny = preface, prefatory matter; dicere praefationem (Plin., Ep.).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for exordium?
- The usual Latin words for “exordium” are exōrdium, exōrdior, prooemium; also cōgitō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.