influence

[in-floo-uh ns] /ˈɪn flu əns/
noun
1.
the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others:
He used family influence to get the contract.
2.
the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others:
Her mother's influence made her stay.
3.
a person or thing that exerts influence:
He is an influence for the good.
4.
Astrology.
  1. the radiation of an ethereal fluid from the stars, regarded as affecting human actions and destinies.
  2. the exercise of occult power by the stars, or such power as exercised.
5.
the exercise of similar power by human beings.
6.
Obsolete, influx.
verb (used with object), influenced, influencing.
7.
to exercise influence on; affect; sway:
to influence a person.
8.
to move or impel (a person) to some action:
Outside factors influenced her to resign.
Idioms
9.
under the influence, Law. less than drunk but with one's nervous system impaired:
He was driving while under the influence.
Also, under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
Origin
1325-75; Middle English < Medieval Latin influentia stellar emanation, equivalent to Latin influent- (see influent) + -ia -y3; see -ence
Related forms
influenceable, adjective
influencer, noun
counterinfluence, noun, verb (used with object), counterinfluenced, counterinfluencing.
interinfluence, verb, interinfluenced, interinfluencing.
noninfluence, noun
outinfluence, verb (used with object), outinfluenced, outinfluencing.
overinfluence, verb (used with object), overinfluenced, overinfluencing.
preinfluence, noun
reinfluence, verb (used with object), reinfluenced, reinfluencing.
superinfluence, noun, verb (used with object), superinfluenced, superinfluencing.
uninfluenced, adjective
uninfluencing, adjective
Can be confused
affluence, effluence, influence.
Synonyms
2. sway, rule. See authority. 7. impress, bias, direct, control. 8. incite, rouse, arouse, instigate, induce, persuade.
British Dictionary definitions for under the influence

influence

/ˈɪnflʊəns/
noun
1.
an effect of one person or thing on another
2.
the power of a person or thing to have such an effect
3.
power or sway resulting from ability, wealth, position, etc
4.
a person or thing having influence
5.
(astrology) an ethereal fluid or occult power regarded as emanating from the stars and affecting a person's actions, future, etc
6.
(informal) under the influence, drunk
verb (transitive)
7.
to persuade or induce
8.
to have an effect upon (actions, events, etc); affect
Derived Forms
influenceable, adjective
influencer, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Medieval Latin influentia emanation of power from the stars, from Latin influere to flow into, from fluere to flow
Word Origin and History for under the influence

influence

n.

late 14c., an astrological term, "streaming ethereal power from the stars acting upon character or destiny of men," from Old French influence "emanation from the stars that acts upon one's character and destiny" (13c.), also "a flow of water," from Medieval Latin influentia "a flowing in" (also used in the astrological sense), from Latin influentem (nominative influens), present participle of influere "to flow into," from in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + fluere "to flow" (see fluent). Meaning "exercise of personal power by human beings" is from mid-15c.; meaning "exertion of unseen influence by persons" is from 1580s (a sense already in Medieval Latin, e.g. Aquinas). Under the influence "drunk" first attested 1866.

v.

1650s, from influence (n.). Related: Influenced; influencing.

Idioms and Phrases with under the influence

under the influence

Impaired functioning owing to alcohol consumption, as in He was accused of driving under the influence. This expression, from legal jargon, is short for under the influence of intoxicating liquor and implies that one is not completely drunk. Since it is nearly always applied to drivers suspected or so accused, it has given rise to the police acronym DUI, for “driving under the influence.” [ Second half of 1800s ]

influence

see: under the influence