A word for someone who is influenced
October 14, 2010 7:44 AM Subscribe
Word Choice Filter: Is there a word that describes someone who is influenced by an influencer?
I have a symmetric relationship that I'm trying to document. On the one side, there is an "influencer" who is influencing someone. On the other side, there is the person who is being influenced. Is there a word to describe that person, other than "the person influenced"?
I have a symmetric relationship that I'm trying to document. On the one side, there is an "influencer" who is influencing someone. On the other side, there is the person who is being influenced. Is there a word to describe that person, other than "the person influenced"?
Swayed
posted by bitdamaged at 7:52 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by bitdamaged at 7:52 AM on October 14, 2010
Response by poster: I was also thinking Influencee, but I didn't want to make up a word if one already existed.
Subject works semantically, but it's overloaded in the particular context with which I'm working.
posted by TheOtherSide at 8:02 AM on October 14, 2010
Subject works semantically, but it's overloaded in the particular context with which I'm working.
posted by TheOtherSide at 8:02 AM on October 14, 2010
"The Influenced"
posted by Confess, Fletch at 8:06 AM on October 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Confess, Fletch at 8:06 AM on October 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
Believer. Responder. Agreer.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:07 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:07 AM on October 14, 2010
Sheep.
posted by kryptonik at 8:27 AM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by kryptonik at 8:27 AM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Gull
posted by Kirth Gerson at 8:33 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by Kirth Gerson at 8:33 AM on October 14, 2010
mook
posted by cosmicbandito at 8:35 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by cosmicbandito at 8:35 AM on October 14, 2010
"Myrmidon" is a terrific word, though it may imply a more complete degree of influence than you have in mind.
posted by foursentences at 9:01 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by foursentences at 9:01 AM on October 14, 2010
(and since you're trying to discuss both sides of the relationship, "myrmidon" is an excellent complement to "svengali".) Two of my favorite words.
posted by foursentences at 9:03 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by foursentences at 9:03 AM on October 14, 2010
Response by poster: I'm looking for a word that's non-hierarchical and non-deprecating.
If it helps, the context I'm working in is Learning. I'm trying to represent people who influence what I learn as well as the people who I influence.
The words Teacher-Student, Expert-Beginner, Learner-Learned and similar relationships don't work well because learning has broader impacts. There are people who influence my learning who do not directly dissemination knowledge, for example: Human Resources, Management, School Superintendent, Board of Education, etc.
Also, I'm trying to avoid hierarchy, because oftentimes the influencers are peers (or even subordinates).
posted by TheOtherSide at 9:04 AM on October 14, 2010
If it helps, the context I'm working in is Learning. I'm trying to represent people who influence what I learn as well as the people who I influence.
The words Teacher-Student, Expert-Beginner, Learner-Learned and similar relationships don't work well because learning has broader impacts. There are people who influence my learning who do not directly dissemination knowledge, for example: Human Resources, Management, School Superintendent, Board of Education, etc.
Also, I'm trying to avoid hierarchy, because oftentimes the influencers are peers (or even subordinates).
posted by TheOtherSide at 9:04 AM on October 14, 2010
Influence is a metaphorical usage of the Latin word for "flowing in" or "in-flow." The metaphor makes sense if you think about phrases like 'that influenced ("flowed into") our decision' or 'he's got influence ("inflow") with him.' There's no fancy word from Latin that means "person influenced" because it doesn't mean that in the original language, and the idea of "person flowed into" doesn't make sense. (There's another English word "influx" with the literal meaning, but it doesn't help.)
You might be able to get away to get away with a pseudo-Latinate word like "influend" (analogous to "dividend" from "divide") from *influendum/-endus/-enda "that which/who is to be flowed into." It's not a real Latin word, but it would be if the Latin word influere were actually used the way the way English word "influence" is. Just explain that it's a made-up word when you introduce it, and what it means.
You could also use "subject of influence" and abbreviate it "SI" once you've explained what it means.
posted by nangar at 9:43 AM on October 14, 2010
You might be able to get away to get away with a pseudo-Latinate word like "influend" (analogous to "dividend" from "divide") from *influendum/-endus/-enda "that which/who is to be flowed into." It's not a real Latin word, but it would be if the Latin word influere were actually used the way the way English word "influence" is. Just explain that it's a made-up word when you introduce it, and what it means.
You could also use "subject of influence" and abbreviate it "SI" once you've explained what it means.
posted by nangar at 9:43 AM on October 14, 2010
The only other word I can come up with is "adherent." It's more or less a more formal version of "follower", but loftier. Most commonly used "I am an adherent of...", and it avoids quite as much subordination because it implies the adherent supports the topic as well as following it. Also it's implied that the adherent chose the particular discipline or what have you, which also invokes a position of power.
posted by Phyltre at 9:53 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by Phyltre at 9:53 AM on October 14, 2010
recipient/receiver/acceptor (of influence). I suspect that it shouldn't be too difficult to set up an initial usage that makes it clear you're talking about a recipient (or receiver/acceptor) of influence specifically, and then use the term alone thereafter without ambiguity.
posted by drlith at 10:06 AM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by drlith at 10:06 AM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Are you positive that "influencer" is precise enough for your purposes? If it is, "the influenced" makes sense and is clearest.
posted by vincele at 10:30 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by vincele at 10:30 AM on October 14, 2010
A "mentee" is one who is mentored.
posted by Carol Anne at 10:40 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by Carol Anne at 10:40 AM on October 14, 2010
protege, disciple, follower...
I question Phyltre's implication that "follower" is too informal. "A follower of the Smith approach" -- isn't that a perfectly sober, respectable way to describe someone?
posted by John Cohen at 10:43 AM on October 14, 2010
I question Phyltre's implication that "follower" is too informal. "A follower of the Smith approach" -- isn't that a perfectly sober, respectable way to describe someone?
posted by John Cohen at 10:43 AM on October 14, 2010
Response by poster: You all are awesome! Some of these are great - and, at least, give me some paths I hadn't seen.
posted by TheOtherSide at 10:46 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by TheOtherSide at 10:46 AM on October 14, 2010
"A follower of the Smith approach" -- isn't that a perfectly sober, respectable way to describe someone?
It is, but to my mind it suggests exclusivity in a way influence does not.
Opposite of influence, I was thinking an variant of effluence, but clearly not. I'd consider influend or some such, and full marks to nangar. It fills the meaning and might get you into the OED. I say go for it.
Interesting question!
posted by IndigoJones at 11:40 AM on October 14, 2010
It is, but to my mind it suggests exclusivity in a way influence does not.
Opposite of influence, I was thinking an variant of effluence, but clearly not. I'd consider influend or some such, and full marks to nangar. It fills the meaning and might get you into the OED. I say go for it.
Interesting question!
posted by IndigoJones at 11:40 AM on October 14, 2010
I didn't mean to imply that "follower" is too informal, just that "adherent" sounds more formal by comparison.
posted by Phyltre at 12:02 PM on October 14, 2010
posted by Phyltre at 12:02 PM on October 14, 2010
Dupe.
Stooge.
Greenhorn.
Victim.
If you're going to comment late, I recommend reading the OP's follow-up:
Stooge.
Greenhorn.
Victim.
If you're going to comment late, I recommend reading the OP's follow-up:
I'm looking for a word that's non-hierarchical and non-deprecating.posted by John Cohen at 12:32 PM on October 14, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by julthumbscrew at 7:48 AM on October 14, 2010