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afflict - 5 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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Afflict

Af*flict"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Afflicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Afflicting.] [L. afflictus, p. p. of affigere to cast down, deject; ad + fligere to strike: cf. OF. aflit, afflict, p. p. Cf. Flagellate.]

1. To strike or cast down; to overthrow. [Obs.] "Reassembling our afflicted powers." --Milton.

2. To inflict some great injury or hurt upon, causing continued pain or mental distress; to trouble grievously; to torment.

They did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. --Exod. i. 11.

That which was the worst now least afflicts me. --Milton.

3. To make low or humble. [Obs.] --Spenser.

Men are apt to prefer a prosperous error before an afflicted truth. --Jer. Taylor.

Syn: To trouble; grieve; pain; distress; harass; torment; wound; hurt.

Afflict

Af*flict"\, p. p. & a. [L. afflictus, p. p.] Afflicted. [Obs.] --Becon.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : afflict
Spanish: afligir,
German: plagen, leiden,
Japanese: 苦しめる
More Translations »

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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