influence
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɪn.flu.əns/
ipa: /ɪnˈflu.əns/
Forms: form: influences
Etymology: From Middle English influence, from Old French influence (“emanation from the stars affecting one's fate”), from Medieval Latin īnfluentia, from Latin īnfluēns (“flowing in”), present active participle of īnfluō (“flow into”), from in- (“in-”) + fluō (“flow”). Doublet of influenza and inflood.
Senses: examples: text: I have absolutely no influence over him.
text: The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives. And, as their ubiquity spreads, so too does the debate around whether we should allow ourselves to become so reliant on them – and who, if anyone, is policing their use.
ref: 2013 July 26, Leo Hickman, “How algorithms rule the world”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 26:
glosses: The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.
examples: text: I'm not able to exercise influence over him.
text: Terra Firma is an Alliance political party formed after the First Contact War. Its policy agenda is based on the principle that Earth must 'stand firm' against alien influences. This covers a variety of legislation. Recent activities by Terra Firma include opposition to a law requiring high school alien language study, a proposal to increase tariffs on alien imports, and leading a popular movement to mark the First Contact War with a public holiday.
ref: 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Terra Firma Party Codex entry:
glosses: An action exerted by a person or thing with such power on another to cause change.
examples: text: He has been a great influence on the voters during the elections.
text: The animals were thoroughly frightened. It seemed to them as though Snowball were some kind of invisible influence, pervading the air about them and menacing them with all kinds of dangers.
ref: 1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC:
text: Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.
ref: 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
glosses: A person or thing exerting such power or action.
topics: astrology
human-sciences
mysticism
philosophy
sciences
glosses: An element believed to determine someone's character or individual tendencies, caused by the position of the stars and planets at the time of one's birth.
examples: text: God hath his influence into the very essence of all things.
ref: 1594–1597, Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
glosses: The action of flowing in; influx.
topics: business
electrical-engineering
electricity
electromagnetism
energy
engineering
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
physics
glosses: Electrostatic induction.
Hyponyms: social influence
Derived terms: area of influence
bad influence
coinfluence
counterinfluence
influenceless
influence machine
influence peddling
influencer
kidfluence
malinfluence
misinfluence
noninfluence
sphere of influence
thinkfluence
trading in influence
traffic of influence
under the influence
undue influence
uninfluence
Related terms: inflood
inflow
influent
influential
influentially