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inflict - 4 dictionary results

in⋅flict

  [in-flikt]
Use inflict in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to impose as something that must be borne or suffered: to inflict punishment.
2. to impose (anything unwelcome): The regime inflicted burdensome taxes on the people.
3. to deal or deliver, as a blow.
Origin:
1520–30; < L inflīctus ptp. of inflīgere to strike or dash against, equiv. to in- in- 2 + flīg- (s. of flīgere to beat down) + -tus ptp. suffix

Related forms:
in⋅flict⋅a⋅ble, adjective
in⋅flict⋅er, in⋅flic⋅tor, noun
in⋅flic⋅tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To inflict
in·flict   (ĭn-flĭkt')   
tr.v.   in·flict·ed, in·flict·ing, in·flicts
  1. To deal or mete out (something punishing or burdensome); impose: inflicted heavy losses on the enemy; a storm that inflicted widespread damage.
  2. To afflict.

[Latin īnflīgere, īnflīct- : in-, on; see in-2 + flīgere, to strike.]
in·flict'er, in·flic'tor n., in·flic'tive adj.
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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Inflict

In*flict"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inflicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Inflicting.] [L. inflictus, p. p. of infligere to strike on, to inflict; pref. in- in, on + fligere to strike. Cf. Flail.] To give, cause, or produce by striking, or as if by striking; to apply forcibly; to lay or impose; to send; to cause to bear, feel, or suffer; as, to inflict blows; to inflict a wound with a dagger; to inflict severe pain by ingratitude; to inflict punishment on an offender; to inflict the penalty of death on a criminal.

What heart could wish, what hand inflict, this dire disgrace? --Drygen.

The persecution and the pain That man inflicts on infero-ior kinds. --Cowper.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : inflict
Spanish: infligir,
German: aufbürden,
Japanese: 押しつける
More Translations »

inflict 
1566, from L. inflictus, pp. of infligere "to strike or dash against," from in- "on, against" + fligere (pp. flictus) "to dash, strike" (see afflict). You inflict a plague on someone; you afflict someone with a plague.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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