- pronunciation:
- In
flu
ns
- parts of speech:
- noun, verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (noun, verb), Word History, Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
a thing or person that can affect another thing or person.
My mother was a big influence in my life.The war had an influence on the country's future.- similar words:
- authority, cause, control
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| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
influences, influencing, influenced |
| definition: |
to affect.
Your ideas have influenced my thinking.- synonyms:
- affect
- similar words:
- control, dispose, guide, incline, move, persuade
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| related words: |
concern, impress |
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| derivations: |
influenced (adj.), influencer (n.) |
The words
influence and
influenza both had their beginnings in a Latin word that meant "to flow in." In Roman times, the Latin word was often used for the effects the stars had on human affairs. The belief that the position of the stars could bring about good or evil events continued into the Renaissance period in Britain and western Europe. The flu was thought to be caused by a bad influence from the stars.