audience English · revision 3746

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1374|origins=la audiō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɔː.di.əns/, US /ˈɑː.di.əns/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|audience]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|audience]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|audientia|t=a hearing, listening]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|audiēns]], present participle of [[m|la|audīre|t=to hear]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from a compound *au-dh- “to perceive physically”, from [[ine-pro|*au-|t=to perceive]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[audible]], [[audition]], [[auditorium]] and [[audit]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The action of hearing, attention to what is spoken: about 1374 in the OED.^(OED 1989) Barnhart dates it probably before 1387, in a version of ''Piers Plowman'', as an opportunity to be heard.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A formal hearing or reception, as by a sovereign, is from 1377,^(OED 1989) and the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Persons within hearing, an assembly of listeners, is from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) People once went to “hear” a play rather than see it, in keeping with the word's oldest sense.^(Cresswell 2021) The sense was transferred to the readers of a book by 1855 and to television viewers by 1946;^(Etymonline) French audience keeps only the older senses.^(Etymonline) ''Audience participation'' is from 1938, in radio.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1374 – hearing, attention.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1377 – a formal hearing.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 15th century – a group of listeners.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1514 – a formal interview with a sovereign.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1855 – the readers of a book.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1938 – ''audience participation''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1946 – television viewers.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The people gathered to watch or listen to a performance, or reached by a broadcast.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The readers of a book or other publication.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A group of admirers or followers.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A formal [[interview]] with a person of high rank: ''an audience with the Pope''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An opportunity to be heard.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[audition]]

+ * [[audible]]

+ * [[audio]]

+ * [[auditorium]]

+ * [[audit]]

+ * [[obey]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}