influence
    n 1: a power to affect persons or events especially power based
         on prestige etc; "used her parents' influence to get the
         job"
    2: causing something without any direct or apparent effort
    3: a cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you
       do; "her wishes had a great influence on his thinking"
    4: the effect of one thing (or person) on another; "the
       influence of mechanical action"
    5: one having power to influence another; "she was the most
       important influence in my life"; "he was a bad influence on
       the children"
    v 1: have and exert influence or effect; "The artist's work
         influenced the young painter"; "She worked on her friends
         to support the political candidate" [syn: influence, act
         upon, work]
    2: shape or influence; give direction to; "experience often
       determines ability"; "mold public opinion" [syn: determine,
       shape, mold, influence, regulate]
    3: induce into action by using one's charm; "She charmed him
       into giving her all his money" [syn: charm, influence,
       tempt]

Influence \In"flu*ence\ ([i^]n"fl[-u]*ens), n. [F. influence,
   fr. L. influens, -entis, p. pr. See Influent, and cf.
   Influenza.]
   1. A flowing in or upon; influx. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            God hath his influence into the very essence of all
            things.                               --Hooker.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Astrologers call the evil influences of the stars,
            evil aspects.                         --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

            Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or
            loose the bands of Orion?             --Job xxxviii.
                                                  31.
      [1913 Webster]

            She said : "Ah, dearest lord! what evil star
            On you hath frown'd, and poured, his influence bad?"
                                                  --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Such influence hath your excellency.  --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Elec.) Induction.

   Syn: Control; persuasion; ascendency; sway; power; authority;
        supremacy; mastery; management; restraint; character;
        reputation; prestige.
        [1913 Webster]

Influence \In"flu*ence\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Influenced
   ([i^]n"fl[-u]*enst); p. pr. & vb. n. Influencing
   ([i^]n"fl[-u]*en*s[i^]ng).]
   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.
   [1913 Webster]

         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.
                                                  --Sir I.
                                                  Newton.
   [1913 Webster]

         This standing revelation . . . is sufficient to
         influence their faith and practice, if they attend.
                                                  --Attebury.
   [1913 Webster]

         The principle which influenced their obedience has lost
         its efficacy.                            --Rogers.
   [1913 Webster]

INFLUENCE. Authority, credit, ascendance. 
     2. Influence is proper or improper. Proper influence is that which one 
person gains over another by acts of kindness and, attention, and by correct 
conduct. 3 Serg. & Rawle, 269. Improper influence is that dominion acquired 
by any person over a mind of sanity for general purposes, and of sufficient 
soundness and discretion to regulate his affairs in general, which prevents 
the exercise of his discretion, and destroys his free will. 1 Cox's Cas. 
355. When the former is used to induce a testator to make a will, it will 
not vitiate it; but when the latter is the moving cause, the will cannot 
stand. 1 Hagg. R. 581; 2 Hagg. 142; 5 Serg. & Rawle, 207; 13 Serg. & Rawle, 
323; 4 Greenl. R. 220; 1 Paige, R. 171; 1 Dow. & Cl. 440; 1 Speers, 93. 
     3. A contract to use a party's influence to induce a person in 
authority to exercise his power in a particular way, is void, as being 
against public policy. 5 Watts & Serg. 315; 5 Penn. St. Rep. 452; 7 Watts, 
152. 

INFLUENCE, n.  In politics, a visionary _quo_ given in exchange for a
substantial _quid_.