1. an opening or introduction to a thing; in Music, a prelude, overture , (Pindar); in poems and speeches, a proem, preface, preamble, introduction , Lat. exordium, (Pindar)

2. metaphorically of any prelude or beginning , φροίμιον χορεύσομαι (Aeschulus Tragicus); μηδέπω ' ν προοιμίοις only just beginning , (Aeschulus Tragicus); εἴ τι τοῦδε φρ. ματᾷ if any part of this presage be vain, (Aeschulus Tragicus)

3. generally, a hymn , (Thucydides) (ML)