What does "induce" mean?

Induce: To draw on; to overspread. [A Latinism] Cowper.

Additional senses

  1. 2.To lead on; to influence; to prevail on; to incite; to move by persuasion or influence. Shak. He is not obliged by your offer to do it, . . . though he may be induced, persuaded, prevailed upon, tempted. Paley. Let not the covetous desire of growing rich induce you to ruin your reputation. Dryden.
  2. 3.To bring on; to effect; to cause; as, a fever induced by fatigue or exposure. Sour things induces a contraction in the nerves. Bacon.
  3. 4.(Physics) To produce, or cause, by proximity without contact or transmission, as a particular electric or magnetic condition in a body, by the approach of another body in an opposite electric or magnetic state.
  4. 5.(Logic) To generalize or conclude as an inference from all the particulars; -- the opposite of deduce.

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