I.original (post-Aug.): “primordii seminis mistu,” Col. 6, 37, 7 dub. (al. primordiis seminum).—Hence, as subst.: prīmor-dĭum , n., and more usually plur.: prī-mordĭa (gen. not in use; principiorum takes its place, Munro ad Lucr. 3, 262; separated and transposed, ordĭa prīma , Lucr. 4, 28), n.
I. The first beginnings, origin, commencement (class.; syn.: principium, initium): primordia rerum, Cic. Part. 2, 7: “a Jove Musarum primordia, id. poët. Leg. 2, 3, 7: mundi,” Ov. M. 15, 67: “gentis,” Luc. 10, 177: “veterum vocum,” Pers. 6, 3: “inquieta a primordiis vita,” Sen. Brev. Vit. 6, 1: “artis,” Lact. 12, 10, 3: “eloquentiae,” Tac. Or. 12; Gell. 12, 1, 9; 17; Lact. 3, 29, 16; Just. 31, 5, 7: “dicendi,” Quint. 1, 9, 1: “terrena,” Col. 3, 10, 10: “mundi,” Sulp. Sev. Chron. 1, 4, 1: “in primordiis,” Pall. 4, 12.—In sing.: a primordio urbis, Liv. init.; Col. 1, 1: “in operum suorum primordio stare,” in the first beginning, Curt. 9, 2, 11; Just. 2, 1: “tam tenues primordio imperi fuere fines,” Plin. 3, 5, 9, § 56.—
II. Absol., the beginning of a new reign, Tac. A. 1, 7.
