early 14c., examinour "one who questions (a witness)," agent noun from examine.

early 13c., "perception of sound by ear, action of listening," verbal noun from hear (v.). Meaning "a listening to evidence in a court of law" is from 1570s. Hearing-aid is from 1908.

1590s, "power of hearing;" 1650s, "act of hearing, a listening," from French audicion "hearing (in a court of law)" and directly from Latin auditionem (nominative auditio) "a hearing, listening to," noun of action from past-participle stem of audire "to hear" (from PIE root *au- "to perceive"). The meaning "trial for a performer" is recorded by 1881.

"supposed power of hearing, in a trance, sounds inaudible to those in a waking state," 1858, formed on model of clairvoyance (with French clair; see clear (adj.)) + audience "hearing." Related: Clairaudient (1852).

"pertaining to hearing," 1570s, from Latin auditorius "pertaining to hearing," from auditor "hearer," from audire "to hear" (from PIE root *au- "to perceive"). The word was used from Middle English as a noun, "assembly of hearers, audience" (late 14c.), from Latin auditorium.

"science of hearing and treatment of deafness," 1946, from audio- + -ology. Related: Audiologist.

Old English heorcnung "a harkening, listening; power of hearing" (see hearken).

"loss of hearing acuteness due to age," 1890, medical Latin (by 1886 in German), from Greek presbys "old man; elderly, aged" (see presby-) + akousis "hearing," from akouein "to hear" (see acoustic).

early 15c., "official examination of accounts," from Latin auditus "a hearing, a listening," past participle of audire "to hear" (from PIE root *au- "to perceive"). Official examination of accounts originally was an oral procedure. The word also formerly was used in a sense of "official audience, judicial hearing or examination" (1590s).

late 14c., "the act or state of hearing, action or condition of listening," 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").

The meaning "formal hearing or reception, opportunity of being heard" also is from late 14c.; that of "persons within hearing range, assembly of listeners" is from early 15c. (a member of one might be an audient, 1610s). French audience retains only the older senses. The English sense was transferred by 1855 to "readers of a book," by 1946 to "viewers of television programs." Audience-participation (adj.) is recorded by 1938 in reference to radio.