INFLUENCE • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Influence

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/ˈɪnfluəns/ Listen

noun

Influence n.

1.

A flowing in or upon; influx. (Obs.) "God hath his influence into the very essence of all things."

2.

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. "Astrologers call the evil influences of the stars, evil aspects." "Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?" "She said: "Ah, dearest lord! what evil star On you hath frown'd, and poured, his influence bad?""

3.

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."

4.

(Elec.) Induction.

Synonyms: Control; persuasion; ascendency; sway; power; authority; supremacy; mastery; management; restraint; character; reputation; prestige.

verb

Influence v. t. (past & past part. influenced; pres. part. 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 affect; to move; to persuade; to induce. "These experiments 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." "This standing revelation... is sufficient to influence their faith and practice, if they attend." "The principle which influenced their obedience has lost its efficacy."

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Etymology of 'Influence'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Influence" Quotes from Famous Books

... give them a few hours of repose, and he led them towards an eminence, crowned by a temple, which commanded the plain. It was held by a party of natives; and the troops, dispirited and exhausted, refused at first to advance against them; but the influence of Cortez, backed by the example of his officers, had its usual effect. The column moved forward against the temple, and the natives, after a few discharges of missiles, ...

— By Right of Conquest - Or, With Cortez in Mexico • G. A. Henty

... and all knew something of the Wrath of the Government. He went to the young men, but the glamour of his name had passed away, and they were entering native regiments of Government offices, and Khem Singh could give them neither pension, decorations, nor influence—nothing but a glorious death with their backs to the mouth of a gun. He wrote letters and made promises, and the letters fell into bad hands, and a wholly insignificant subordinate officer of Police tracked them down and gained promotion thereby. Moreover, Khem Singh was old, and anise-seed ...

— Soldiers Three • Rudyard Kipling

... girl in the world," she said. "Mrs. Florence thinks so. She said I was an evil influence in the school. Wasn't that ...

— What Katy Did At School • Susan Coolidge

... openly boasted of their acquaintance and "influence" with the red handed murderers, and gloated over the fact that it enabled them to sell them more goods than they could have done had they been strangers to the Indians. It is a well-known fact that there are a number of ranchmen ...

— The Battle of the Big Hole • G. O. Shields

... anything of the sort. Her manner was affectionate, almost caressing; she declared that she felt a sisterly interest in her. This was genuine enough. I am not sure that Mrs. Bartlett Glow did not sometimes waver in her purpose when she was in the immediate influence of the girl's genuine charm, and felt how sincere she was. She even went so far as to wish to herself that Irene had been born ...

— Baddeck and That Sort of Thing • Charles Dudley Warner

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