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influent

[in-floo-uh nt]
adjective
  1. flowing in.
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noun
  1. a tributary.
  2. Ecology. a plant or animal that has an important effect on the biotic balance in a community.
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Origin of influent

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin influent- (stem of influēns) inflowing. See in-2, fluent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for influent

Historical Examples

  • We had thus examined each of its three mouths, and settled all doubts as to the Rusizi being an effluent or influent.

    How I Found Livingstone

    Henry M. Stanley

British Dictionary definitions for influent

influent

adjective Also: inflowing
  1. flowing in
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noun
  1. something flowing in, esp a tributary
  2. ecology an organism that has a major effect on the nature of its community
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for influent

adj.

mid-15c., "abundant," in reference to occult power of the stars, etc., also of grace, from Latin influentem (nominative influens), present participle of influere "to flow in" (see influence).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper