influençant

Influençant is the present participle (participe présent) of the French verb influencer, meaning “influencing.” It is formed from the stem influenç- plus the suffix -ant, with the cedilla on c before a to preserve the soft s sound, yielding influençant. The verb influencer comes from influence, which in turn derives from Latin influentia via Old French influence, and entered French with senses related to exerting power over others.

Usage: As a participle, influençant is used to indicate ongoing action. It appears most often in constructions with en, as in en influençant l’opinion publique, meaning “while influencing public opinion.” It can also occur in literary or formal writing as a present participle describing something that exerts influence, though such adjectival uses are relatively uncommon and other expressions are typically preferred.

Etymology: The verb and its participle are built on the noun influence and the verb influencer, both tied to the broader concept of influencing others.

See also: influence, influencer, influenceur, participe présent, gérondif.

Examples: En influençant les choix des électeurs, le discu r a modifié le scrutin. Un message influençant peut avoir des effets durables.