af·flict

[uh-flikt]
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; Middle English afflicten < Latin afflīctus distressed, past participle of afflīgere to cast down (af- af- + flīg- knock + -tus past participle suffix); replacing Middle English aflight < Middle French aflit < L. See inflict

af·flict·ed·ness, noun
af·flict·er, noun
o·ver·af·flict, verb (used with object)
pre·af·flict, verb (used with object)
self-af·flict·ing, adjective
un·af·flict·ed, adjective
un·af·flict·ed·ly, adverb
un·af·flict·ed·ness, noun
un·af·flict·ing, adjective

afflict, infect, inflict.


1. vex, harass, torment, plague.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Afflicted is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
Collins
World English Dictionary
afflict (əˈflɪkt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
(tr) to cause suffering or unhappiness to; distress greatly
 
[C14: from Latin afflictus, past participle of afflīgere to knock against, from flīgere to knock, to strike]
 
af'flictive
 
adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

afflict
late 14c., "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 1530s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The afflicted were offered small stipends to confine themselves to the containment center, preventing further contamination.
Most are either afflicted with illness, taking care of someone else who's ill,
  or grieving for someone already gone.
All were afflicted, but durst not oppose his desire.
As countries become more industrialized, the percentage of population afflicted
  tends to grow higher.
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