In general

Audience Au"di*ence, n. [F. audience, L. audientia, fr. audire to hear. See {Audible}, a.] 1. The act of hearing; attention to sounds. [1913 Webster]

Thou, therefore, give due audience, and attend. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Admittance to a hearing; a formal interview, esp. with a sovereign or the head of a government, for conference or the transaction of business. [1913 Webster]

According to the fair play of the world, Let me have audience: I am sent to speak. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. An auditory; an assembly of hearers. Also applied by authors to their readers. [1913 Webster]

Fit audience find, though few. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

He drew his audience upward to the sky. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

{Court of audience}, or {Audience court} (Eng.), a court long since disused, belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury; also, one belonging to the Archbishop of York. --Mozley & W.

{In general} (or {open}) {audience}, publicly.

{To give audience}, to listen; to admit to an interview. [1913 Webster]