'applause' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'applaudere,' where 'ad-' meant 'to' and 'plaudere' meant 'to strike or clap'. 'induce' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'inducere,' where 'in-' meant 'into' and 'ducere' meant 'to lead'.

'applause' passed into English via Late Latin 'applausus' and Old French forms (e.g. 'aplaus'), eventually becoming modern English 'applause'. 'induce' came from Latin 'inducere' to Old French 'induire' and then into Middle English as 'induce', keeping the sense of causing or bringing about.

Initially, 'applause' meant 'the act of clapping' and this core meaning has remained. 'induce' originally meant 'to lead into' and over time shifted toward the meaning 'to cause' or 'bring about'. Combined, the compound means 'to cause applause'.