influence

influence
\ \ [14] Influence began life as an astrological term. It was coined in medieval Latin as influentia from the present participle of Latin influereflow in’, a compound verb based on fluereflow’, and to begin with denoted a sort of fluid that was supposed to be given off by the stars and to influence human life. English originally acquired the word with this meaning, and it was not until the end of the 16th century that the main current sense ‘power to produce effects’ started to establish itself. The more concrete notion of an ‘emanation’ that affected people also lay behind the use of Italian influenza for ‘epidemic’, from which English got influenza (see FLU).
\ \ Another English acquisition from Latin influere is influx [17], which comes from its past participle.
\ \ Cf.FLU, FLUENT, INFLUX

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • INFLUENCE — Dans le langage scientifique, une sorte de coexistence s’instaure fréquemment entre deux niveaux de conceptualisation, l’un assez proche de la langue courante, où le terme est employé dans un sens générique très large et désigne plutôt une notion …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • influence — in·flu·ence n 1 a: the act or power of producing an effect without any apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command b: corrupt interference with authority for personal gain 2: the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or… …   Law dictionary

  • influence — n Influence, authority, prestige, weight, credit are comparable when they mean power exerted over the minds or acts of others either without apparent effort or as the result of the qualities, the position, or the reputation of the person or thing …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Influence — In flu*ence ([i^]n fl[ u]*ens), n. [F. influence, fr. L. influens, entis, p. pr. See {Influent}, and cf. {Influenza}.] 1. A flowing in or upon; influx. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] God hath his influence into the very essence of all things. Hooker.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Influence — may refer to: *, an episode of the American drama TV series *A type of electrostatic generator *Social influence, in interpersonal relationships *Minority influence, when the minority affect the behavior or beliefs of the majority *Undue… …   Wikipedia

  • influence — [in′flo͞o əns, in flo͞o′əns] n. [OFr < ML influentia, a flowing in < L influens, prp. of influere, to flow in < in, in + fluere, to flow: see FLUCTUATE] 1. Astrol. the flowing of an ethereal fluid or power from the stars, thought to… …   English World dictionary

  • influence — ► NOUN 1) the power or ability to affect someone s beliefs or actions. 2) a person or thing with such ability or power. 3) the power arising out of status, contacts, or wealth. 4) the power to produce a physical change. ► VERB ▪ have an influence …   English terms dictionary

  • Influence — In flu*ence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Influenced} ([i^]n fl[ u]*enst); p. pr. & vb. n. {Influencing} ([i^]n fl[ u]*en*s[i^]ng).] To control or move by power, physical or moral; to affect by gentle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • influence — Influence. s. f. Qualité, puissance, vertu qui decoule des astres sur les corps sublunaires. Bonne influence. maligne influence. les diverses influences des astres font la varieté du temps …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • influencé — influencé, ée (in flu an sé, sée) part. passé d influencer. Influencé par sa femme …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • influence — [n] power, authority access, agency, ascendancy, character, clout, command, connections, consequence, control, credit, direction, domination, dominion, drag, effect, esteem, fame, fix, force, grease*, guidance, hold, impact, importance, imprint,… …   New thesaurus

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