influenza

Where does the word "influenza" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin influentia, passing through Italian before entering English (1700s).

Influenza’s story begins in Medieval Latin: influentia meant “influence, especially of the stars.” Meaning "influence", especially astrological influence believed to cause disease. By 1500s-1600s, the word had taken hold in Italian as influenza. Applied to epidemics attributed to unseen astrological or environmental influence. It reached English by 1700s as influenza. Italian 'influence', since epidemics were blamed on the stars; the 1743 epidemic brought the word to English. Today, influenza means a contagious viral illness causing fever, aches, and respiratory symptoms.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval influentia "influence, especially of the stars", meaning "influence", especially astrological influence believed to cause disease.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · 1500s-1600s influenza "an epidemic illness", applied to epidemics attributed to unseen astrological or environmental influence.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s influenza "a contagious viral respiratory illness", Italian 'influence', since epidemics were blamed on the stars; the 1743 epidemic brought the word to English.