English
influence
Influence comes from Old French influence, from Medieval Latin īnfluentia, from Latin īnfluēns ‘flowing in’, possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlewH- ‘to overflow’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰlewH-‘to overflow’uncertain
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfluō‘to flow’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEīnfluō‘to flow into’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEīnfluēns‘flowing into’present active participle of īnfluō
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500īnfluentia
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400influence‘inundation; influence’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1943same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰlewH-‘to overflow’uncertain
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfluō‘to flow’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEīnfluō‘to flow into’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEīnfluēns‘flowing into’present active participle of īnfluō
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500īnfluentia
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400influence‘inundation; influence’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1943same form
Earliest quotation: 1943, – 1944 February, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair]: “The animals were thoroughly frightened. It seemed to them…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰluH-yé-ti
through Latin fluō ‘to flow’
fluid, flux, fluent, fluctuate, fluctuation, flume, fluorine, fluency, confluence, fluvial, fluorite, affluence, fluor, 27 more
Today it means
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.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰlewH- / influence