A.opening, introduction; in Music, prelude, overture, Pi.P.1.4; in Ep. poems, proëm, preamble, Id.N.2.3, Ar.Eq.1343; in speeches, exordium, Critias 43 tit., Arist. Rh.1414b19, Phld.Rh.1.56S., Stoic.2.96, etc.; προοιμίοις ἡδονῆς with prefaces about pleasure, X.Mem.2.1.27.
2. metaph. of any prelude or beginning, “φροίμιον χορεύσομαι” A.Ag.31, cf. 829; φροιμίοις <δυσφροιμίοις> ib. 1216, cf. Th.7; λόγους . . μηδέπω 'ν προοιμίοις only just beginning, Id.Pr.741; εἴ τι τοῦδε φ. ματᾷ any part of this presage, Id.Eu. 142; “ὁρῶ τάδε φροίμια . . πόνων” Id.Supp.830 (lyr.), cf. E.Hipp.568, X. Mem.4.2.3; “ἐγχέων π.” Pi.Fr.78; “π. δείπνου” Alex.110.3; “π. ἔχθρας” Plb.22.4.15; “ἀρχῆς” Id.25.3.8 (pl.); “δάκρυά μοι τὰ π. τῆς τέχνης” Luc. Somn.3; of premonitory symptoms of disease, Orib.Syn.8.2.