audients

Noun

audient (plural audients)

1. (uncommon) A hearer; a member of an audience.
   • The audients of her ſad ſtorie, felt great motions both of pitie and admiration for her miſfortunes: […]1612–1620, [Miguel de Cervantes], “Which Treates of the Discretion of the Beautifull Dorotea, and the Artificiall Manner Used to Disswade the Amorous Knight from Continuing His Penance: And How He...
2. (obsolete, specifically) A catechumen (“convert to Christianity under instruction before baptism”) in the early Christian Church.
   • This aforesaid doctor [John Chrysostom] in divers places of his writings both sharply and grievously reproveth his audients for their slack coming unto the Lord's table, and exhorteth them many times in the year, yea, daily (if they have pure minds) to come unto the holy communion.1560, Thomas Becon [i.e., Thomas Beccon], “The Fifth Part of the Catechism. Of the Sacraments. [Of the Lord’s Supper]”, in John Ayre, editor, The Catechism of Thomas Becon, S.T.P. […] (Parker Society...

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