[as if ad. L. *effluentia, f. effluent-em flowing out (see EFFLUENT); cf. earlier AFFLUENCE, ad. L. affluentia.]
1. A flowing out (esp. of light, electricity, magnetism, etc.); also transf. a (tumultuous) streaming forth (of men).
1635. N. Carpenter, Geog. Del., I. iii. 54. Electricall bodies … draw other bodies vnto them by reason of a moist effluence of vapours.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. ii. 64. Where the greater continents are joyned, the action and effluence [of magnetism] is also greater.
1759. Phil. Trans., LI. 386. The cohesion cannot be owing to an effluence and affluence of one and the same electrical fluid.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. I. i. 6. That stormful effluence towards the Frontiers.
1877. L. Morris, Epic of Hades, III. 233. Gladdened by that broad effluence of light.
b. fig.
1628. T. Spencer, Logick, 195–6. Truth, not of constitution … But, of emanation, effluence, and consecution.
a. 1716. South, Serm., in Daily Tel. (1883), 10 July, 5/4. The fulness and effluence of man’s enjoyments.
1836. New Monthly Mag., XLVIII. 203. In this effluence of words … the genuine art of dramatic writing consists.
2. concr. That which flows forth; an emanation.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1301. All water and moisture … they call the effluence of Osiris.
1718. Prior, Poems, 311. Heav’n’s fuller Effluence mocks our dazl’d Sight.
1862. F. Hall, Hindu Philos. Syst., 225–6. When the jar is seen, an effluence of the internal organ … takes its form.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 276. Socrates is induced to reply, ‘that colour is the effluence of form in due proportion to the sight.’
b. fig.
1625. Gill, Sacr. Philos., I. 30. We speake of goodnesse, of power, &c., as of the effluences … thereof.
a. 1711. Ken, Edmund, Poet. Wks. 1721, II. 371. And to support the Martyr, on his Head Consolatory Effluences shed.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1868), I. v. 148. The effluence which came so naturally from the tranquil eyes of William the Silent.
1865. Merivale, Rom. Emp., VIII. lxiv. 70. They were persuaded that the empire itself … was an effluence from the divine regimen of the world.
