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afflict

 - 3 dictionary results

af⋅flict

  [uh-flikt]
Use afflict in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to distress with mental or bodily pain; trouble greatly or grievously: to be afflicted with arthritis.
2. Obsolete.
a. to overthrow; defeat.
b. to humble.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME afflicten < L afflīctus distressed, ptp. of afflīgere to cast down (af- af- + flīg- knock + -tus ptp. suffix); r. ME aflight < MF aflit < L. See inflict

Related forms:
af⋅flict⋅ed⋅ness, noun
af⋅flict⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. vex, harass, torment, plague.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To afflict
af·flict   (ə-flĭkt')   
tr.v.   af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts
To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on.

[Middle English afflighten, from afflight, disturbed, frightened, from Latin afflictum, past participle of afflīgere, to cast down : ad-, ad- + flīgere, to strike.]
af·flict'er n., af·flic'tive adj., af·flic'tive·ly adv.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to bring great harm or suffering to someone: afflicted with arthritis; was agonized to see her suffering; racked with cancer; tormented by migraine headaches; tortured by painful memories.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

afflict 
1393, "to cast down," from O.Fr. afflicter, from L. afflictare "to damage, harass, torment," freq. of affligere (pp. afflictus) "to dash down, overthrow," from ad- "to" + fligere (pp. flictus) "to strike," from PIE base *bhlig- "to strike" (cf. Gk. phlibein "to press, crush," Czech blizna "scar," Welsh blif "catapult"). Transf. meaning of "trouble, distress," is first recorded 1535; affliction "grief, distress, misery" is recorded from 1485.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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