influence

Meanings

Noun

• 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.
• An action exerted by a person or thing with such power on another to cause change.
• A person or thing exerting such power or action.
• 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.
• The action of flowing in; influx.
• Electrostatic induction.

Verb

• To have an effect on by using gentle or subtle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to persuade or induce.
• To exert, make use of one's influence.
• To cause to flow in or into; infuse; instill.

Related

Narrower meaning words

• social influence

Origin

• 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, from in- + fluō. influenza.