Dictionary
ex•or•di•um
Pronunciation: (ig-zôr'dē-um, ik-sôr'-), [key]—
n.,
—pl. -di•ums, -di•aPronunciation: (-dē-u). [key]
1. the beginning of anything.
2. the introductory part of an oration, treatise, etc.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.