Sentence:  Rose Waterford was a cynic. She looked upon life as an opportunity for writing novels and the public as her raw material. Now and then she invited members of it to her house if they showed an appreciation of her talent and entertained with proper lavishness. She held their weakness for <WSD>lions</WSD> in good-humoured contempt, but played to them her part of the distinguished woman of letters with decorum. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A famous person regarded with interest and curiosity.