under the influence
flu 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 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.
00:10
Under the influence
is always a great word to know.
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
| a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
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
1325–75; Middle English < Medieval Latin influentia stellar emanation, equivalent to Latin influent- (see influent) + -ia -y3; see -ence
Related forms
in·flu·ence·a·ble, adjective
in·flu·enc·er, noun
coun·ter·in·flu·ence, noun, verb (used with object), coun·ter·in·flu·enced, coun·ter·in·flu·enc·ing.
in·ter·in·flu·ence, verb, in·ter·in·flu·enced, in·ter·in·flu·enc·ing.
non·in·flu·ence, noun
out·in·flu·ence, verb (used with object), out·in·flu·enced, out·in·flu·enc·ing.
o·ver·in·flu·ence, verb (used with object), o·ver·in·flu·enced, o·ver·in·flu·enc·ing.
pre·in·flu·ence, noun
re·in·flu·ence, verb (used with object), re·in·flu·enced, re·in·flu·enc·ing.
su·per·in·flu·ence, noun, verb (used with object), su·per·in·flu·enced, su·per·in·flu·enc·ing.
un·in·flu·enced, adjective
un·in·flu·enc·ing, adjective
Synonyms
2. sway, rule. See authority. 7. impress, bias, direct, control. 8. incite, rouse, arouse, instigate, induce, persuade.
2. sway, rule. See authority. 7. impress, bias, direct, control. 8. incite, rouse, arouse, instigate, induce, persuade.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To under the influence
Collins
World English Dictionary
influence (ˈɪnflʊəns) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 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 |
| —vb | |
| 7. | to persuade or induce |
| 8. | to have an effect upon (actions, events, etc); affect |
| [C14: from Medieval Latin influentia emanation of power from the stars, from Latin influere to flow into, from fluere to flow] | |
| 'influenceable | |
| —adj | |
| 'influencer | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
influence
late 14c., an astrological term, "streaming ethereal power from the stars acting upon character or destiny of men," from O.Fr. influence "emanation from the stars that acts upon one's character and destiny" (13c.), also "a flow of water," from M.L. influentia "a flowing in" (also used in the astrological
sense), from L. influentem (nom. influens), prp. of influere "to flow into," from in- "in" + 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 M.L., e.g. Aquinas). Under the influence "drunk" first attested 1866.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
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]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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