audience (1 the commonest S. use; the sense ‘assembly of listeners’ occurs 7 times)
1.
hearing, attention to what is said
Cor. III. iii. 39
“audience; peace! I
say,”
Ham. I. iii. 93, Ant. III. x. [xii.] 21; “have
,”
to be heard LLL. V. i. 144; “give (lend, vouchsafe)
audience,” listen Cæs. III. ii. 2; Compl. 278; LLL. V. ii. 314.
2.
reception at an
interview, formal interview granted by a superior
H5 I. i. 92
“The French ambassador .
. . Crav'd audience,”
Cor. II. i. 82.
