Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin influentia, from Latin influent-, influens, present participle of influere to flow in, from in- + fluere to flow; more at FLUID
Pronunciation : in-"flü-&n(t)s,
es
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. effect, impact, action of a person or thing which affects another; person or thing which has power to affect others; use of personal connections to manipulate people or events. affect, impact; impel, control. influence\in"flu*ence\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. influenced ; p. pr. & vb. n. influencing .] to control or move by power, physical or moral; to affect by gentle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to move; to persuade; to induce. theseexperiments succeed after the same manner in vacuo as in the open air,and therefore are not influenced by the weight or pressure of the atmosphere. i. newton. this standing revelation is sufficient to influence their faith and practice, if they attend. --attebury. the principle which influenced their obedience has lost its efficacy.influence \in"flu*ence\ , n. [f. influence, fr. l. influens, -entis, p. pr. see:
influent, and cf. influenza.].
2. a flowing in or upon; influx. [obs.] god hath his influence into the very essence of all things.
3. hence, in general, the bringing about of an effect, phusical or moral, by a gradual process; controlling power quietly exerted; agency, force, or tendency of any kind which the sun exerts on animal and vegetable life; the influence of education on the mind; the influence, according to astrologers,of the stars over affairs. astrologers call the evil influences of the stars,evil aspects. cantsthou bind the sweet influences of pleiades, or loose the bands of orion ? xxxviii.
4. she said : ah,dearest lord ! what evil star on you hath frown'd,and poured, his influence bad ?".
5. power or authority arising from elevated station, excelence of character or intellect, wealth, etc.; reputation; acknowledged ascendency; as, he is a man of influence in the community. such influence hath your excellency. sidney.
6. (elec.) induction.
7. A flowing in or upon; influx.
8. Hence, in general, the bringing about of an effect, physical or moral, by a gradual process; controlling power quietly exerted; agency, force, or tendency of any kind which affects, modifies, or sways; as, the influence which the sun exerts on animal and vegetable life; the influence of education on the mind; the influence, according to astrologers, of the stars over affairs.
9. Power or authority arising from elevated station, excelence of character or intellect, wealth, etc.; reputation; acknowledged ascendency; as, he is a man of influence in the community.
10. Induction.
11. To control or move by power, physical or moral; to affect by gentle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to move; to persuade; to induce. causing something without any direct or apparent effort a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc; "used her parents' influence to get the job" a cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you do; "her wishes had a great influence on his thinking" one having power to influence another; "she was the most important influence in my life"; "he was a bad influence on the children" the effect of one thing on another; "the influence of mechanical action" have and exert influence or effect; "The artist's work influenced the young painter"; "She worked on her friends to support the political candidate".
12. 1. Influence is the power to make other people agree with your opinions or do what you want. He denies exerting any political influence over them The government should continue to use its influence for the release of all hostages.
13. If you influence someone, you use your power to make them agree with you or do what you want. He is trying to improperly influence a witness My dad influenced me to do electronics.
14. To have an influence on people or situations means to affect what they do or what happens. Van Gogh had a major influence on the development of modern painting.
15. If someone or something influences a person or situation, they have an effect on that person's behaviour or that situation. We became the best of friends and he influenced me deeply They still influence what's played on the radio.
16. Someone or something that is a good or bad influence on people has a good or bad effect on them. I thought Sue would be a good influence on you.
17. If you are under the influence of someone or something, you are being affected or controlled by them. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. W2S2 to affect the way someone or something develops, behaves, thinks etc without directly forcing or ordering them.