Noun

(en noun)

The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle.

*(Joseph Addison) (1672–1719)

*:The Veian and the Gabian towers shall fall, / And one promiscuous ruin' cover all; / Nor, after length of years, a stone betray / The place where once the very ' ruins lay.

*(Joseph Stevens Buckminster) (1751-1812)

*:The labour of a day will not build up a virtuous habit on the ruins of an old and vicious character.

*{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)

, chapter=Foreword citation , passage=A canister of flour from the kitchen had been thrown at the looking-glass and lay like trampled snow over the remains of a decent blue suit with the lining ripped out which lay on top of the ruin of a plastic wardrobe.}}

(lb) The state of being a ruin, destroyed or decayed.

:

(lb) Something that leads to serious trouble or destruction.

:

*(Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)

*:The errors of young men are the ruin of business.

*

*:The Bat—they called him the Bat.. Most lone wolves had a moll at any rate—women were their ruin —but if the Bat had a moll, not even the grapevine telegraph could locate her.

(lb) A fall or tumble.

*(George Chapman) (1559-1634)

*:His ruin startled the other steeds.

A change that destroys or defeats something; destruction; overthrow.

:

*(Thomas Gray) (1716-1771)

*:Ruin seize thee, ruthless king!

Noun

The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-26, author=(Leo Hickman)

, volume=189, issue=7, page=26, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= How algorithms rule the world , passage=The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives. And, as their ubiquity spreads, so too does the debate around whether we should allow ourselves to become so reliant on them – and who, if anyone, is policing their use.}}

An action exerted by a person or thing with such power on another to cause change.

A person or thing exerting such power or action.

* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katrina G. Claw

, title= Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm , volume=101, issue=3, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.}}

(astrology) An element believed to determine someone's character or individual tendencies, caused by the position of the stars and planets at the time of one's birth.

(obsolete) The action of flowing in; influx.

* Hooker

God hath his influence into the very essence of all things.

(electricity) Electrostatic induction.