exordior

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɛkˈsoːr.di.ɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eɡˈzɔr.di.or]^[1]

Forms

exōrdior (present infinitive exōrdīrī, perfect active exōrsus sum); fourth conjugation, deponent^[1]

Etymology

It is from ex- and ōrdior “to begin, lay the warp”.^[2][1] De Vaan connects ⟨ōrdior⟩ with Proto-Italic *ord-i- (“row, arrangement”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In weaving it meant to lay the warp, begin a web, and in Cato to lay out the strands of a rope; from there it meant to begin, start, embark on, especially a speech, as in Plautus.^[2][5] The perfect participle could be passive, “begun”.^[2]

It survives in Italian esordire.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][4]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of rope-making.^[5][4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To lay the warp; to begin (a web).^[2]
2. To begin, start (a speech).^[2]

Word family

• exōrdium
• exōrsa
• exorsus

Related words

• ōrdior
• ōrdō

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press