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influentialis

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word influentialis

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
Ultimate origin
Latin influentia
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin influo
Latin influentia
Latin influentialis
From the same root
English influenza ← influentia

Forms

influentialis (neuter influentiale); third-declension two-termination adjective[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin influentia (“influence”) + -ālis.[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a late Medieval and Neo-Latin word.[4][2] Nicholas of Cusa, in De docta ignorantia, lists an “influential” difference beside generic, specific, local and temporal ones, and speaks of influential spirits.[2]

Semantic evolution

It belonged to astrology and natural philosophy, for the power of the heavenly bodies acting on things below:[4][1] a Polish commentary pairs the influential qualities of the heavenly bodies with the hidden virtues of stones,[1] and the DMLBS quotes it from John Dee's Monas in an astrological sense.[4] Nicholas of Cusa also has the adverb influentiāliter, by way of influence.[2] The Lexicon Bohemorum glosses it “having force”.[5]

English influential came from it, first in the astrological sense in the 1560s, then as “powerful” from the 1650s.[3]

Timeline

  • 1560s – English influential is recorded in an astrological sense.[3]
  • 1650s – The English word comes to mean “powerful”.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin, astrology) Exerting influence, especially of the heavenly bodies.[4][1][5]
  2. (New Latin) Relating to influence, acting by influence.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  2. ^ a b c d e Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Cite this entry

“Influentialis.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/influentialis. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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