Fluence
/ˈfluːəns/noun
The state or quality of flowing or moving smoothly; in physics, the total flow or amount of radiation passing through a surface.
Did you know?Its deepest root is tied to Latin *fluere* “to flow,” the same root behind words like *fluid*, *affluent*, and *influence*—so even “influence” originally meant a kind of flowing-in power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pleu-
“to flow, swim”
Latin
Latin
fluere
“to flow”
Late Latin
Latin
fluens
“flowing”
Middle French
Old French
fluence
“flowing, current”
Modern English
English
fluence
“flowing quality; radiation flow or flux”