The word "interaction" comes from the Latin word "interactio" which means "a mutual action or influence." It was first used in English in the late 17th century to describe the action of two or more things influencing or affecting each other. It is derived from the prefix "inter-" meaning "between" or "among" and "actio" which means "action" or "activity". The noun "interaction" refers to the action of two or more things influencing or affecting each other. It typically refers to the way in which different elements or entities in a system interact with each other, and the effects that these interactions have on the system as a whole. It can also refer to the way in which individuals or groups interact with each other, and the effects that these interactions have on the individuals or groups involved. It is widely used in various fields such as physics, biology, sociology, psychology and computer science to describe the ways in which different elements of a system or different individuals or groups interact with each other.