Influence

influence







Dictionary.com



–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. 

a. the radiation of an ethereal fluid from the stars, regarded as affecting human actions and destinies. 

b. the exercise of occult (奧祕的) 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) 

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.  



—Idiom

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. 





The Columbia Guide to Standard American English



The noun combines with several prepositions: to identify the influence, with of: The influence [of] Hemingway on the narrative styles of some American writers has been considerable; 



to identify where the influence is felt, with on, in, among, within, throughout, and the like 

(The influence of American blue jeans, popular music, and television is apparent on [in, among] Russian youth. 

The influence of certain great musicians is widely felt within [throughout] the world of jazz). 



For, from, and with also occur: 

She is a powerful influence for good among young people. 

Influences from all sorts of earlier composers are evident in his music. 

He says he has some influence with the town council.   

 

There are two Standard pronunciations of both the noun and the verb: IN-floo-ins for most Americans, and in-FLOO-ins for users of Southern Regional dialect. 



Some commentators have wrongly assumed that the pronunciation with stress on the second syllable is Common or Vulgar; it’s not—it’s Southern, and it’s Standard there. 





see etherealness