How to pronounce groundling
American English pronunciation
GROUND-ling
- IPA
- /ˈɡɹaʊndlɪŋ/
- Syllables
- GROUND · ling (2 syllables, stress on the 1st)
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What groundling means
A theatergoer who paid least and stood in the open pit
In a sentence: In Shakespeare's day, the groundlings stood close to the stage and cheered loudly.
Where it comes from: It's made from ground and -ling, an ending for a small or lowly one. The poorest theater fans stood on the bare ground in front of the stage.
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