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.).