Confluence
Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 10:48 pm
I saw this in William's post and thought it would be a good WOTD. Confluence:
Compare to influence:1432, from L.L. confluentia, from L. confluentem (nom. confluens), prp. of confluere "to flow together," from com- "together" + fluere "to flow."
and effluence:c.1374, 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 1439; meaning "exertion of unseen influence by persons" is from 1588 (a sense already in M.L., e.g. Aquinas). Under the influence "drunk" first attested 1866. Influential "powerful" is from 1734.
gailr1603, from L.L. effluentia, from L. effluentem (nom. effluens) "flowing out," prp. of effluere "to flow out," from ex- "out" + fluere "to flow" (see fluent). Effluent (n.) "liquid industrial waste" is recorded from 1930.