Etymologically
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exordior

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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

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