late 14c., "the action of hearing," from Old French audience, from Latin audentia "a hearing, listening," from audientum (nominative audiens), present participle of audire "to hear," from PIE compound *au-dh- "to perceive physically, grasp," from root *au- "to perceive" (cognates: Greek aisthanesthai "to feel;" Sanskrit avih, Avestan avish "openly, evidently;" Old Church Slavonic javiti "to reveal"). Meaning "formal hearing or reception" is from late 14c.; that of "persons within hearing range, assembly of listeners" is from early 15c. (French audience retains only the older senses). Sense transferred 1855 to "readers of a book." Audience-participation (adj.) first recorded 1940.
双语例句
1. My audience certainly isn't the proverbial man in the street.
我的观众当然不是街上的平头百姓。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The offending comment was in fact a heckle from an audience member.
这番冒犯性的话实际上是一名观众的诘难。
来自柯林斯例句
3. They would always come out and warm up the audience.
他们总是会出来调动观众情绪。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Say's writings reached a wide audience during his lifetime.
在塞伊有生之年，他的作品拥有大量的读者。
来自柯林斯例句
5. After the show, the audience deserts the Blackpool streets.