Noun

(stimuli)

(rfc-sense) Anything that may have an impact or influence on a system.

an economic stimulus

* {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times citation

, passage=Democrats, meanwhile, point out that Republicans seem to have made a conscious decision, beginning with the stimulus , to oppose anything the president put forward, dooming any chance of renewed cooperation between the parties.}}

(rfc-sense) (physiology) Something external that elicits or influences a physiological or psychological activity or response.

(rfc-sense) (psychology) Anything effectively impinging upon any of the sensory apparatuses of a living organism, including physical phenomena both internal and external to the body.

(rfc-sense) Anything that induces a person to take action.

Noun

(en noun)

The act of persuading, or trying to do so; the addressing of arguments to someone with the intention of changing their mind or convincing them of a certain point of view, course of action etc.

* 2006 , Rachel Morris, "Borderline Catastrophe", Washington Monthly , vol. 38:10:

With the base unleashed, the White House was unable to broker a compromise, either by persuasion or by pressure.

An argument or other statement intended to influence one's opinions or beliefs; a way of persuading someone.

* 1928 , "The New Pictures", Time , 13 Feb 1928:

Sadie curses, weeps, then, infected by Mr. Hamilton's writhing persuasions , prays and becomes penitent.

A strongly held conviction, opinion or belief.

It is his persuasion that abortion should never be condoned.

One's ability or power to influence someone's opinions or feelings; persuasiveness.

A specified religious adherence, a creed; any school of thought or ideology.

* 2009 , US Catholic (letter), May 2009:

As a convert from the Baptist persuasion more than 40 years ago, I still feel like an outsider in the church despite the kindness and acceptance of Catholic friends.

(colloquial) Any group having a specified characteristic or attribute in common.

* 2010 , "We don't need gay stereotypes", The Guardian , 6 Feb 2010:

Social understanding and equality can neither be nurtured through fear, nor intimidation. Surely this goes for people of all sexual persuasions .