inflict
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; < Latin inflīctus past participle of inflīgere to strike or dash against, equivalent to in- in-2 + flīg- (stem of flīgere to beat down) + -tus past participle suffix
1520–30; < Latin inflīctus past participle of inflīgere to strike or dash against, equivalent to in- in-2 + flīg- (stem of flīgere to beat down) + -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
in·flict·a·ble, adjective
in·flict·er, in·flic·tor, noun
in·flic·tive, adjective
pre·in·flict, verb (used with object)
un·in·flict·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To inflict
00:10
Inflict
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is absquatulate. Does it mean:
| to flee; abscond: |
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
inflict (ɪnˈflɪkt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (often foll by on | |
| 1. | to impose (something unwelcome, such as pain, oneself, etc) |
| 2. | rare to cause to suffer; afflict (with) |
| 3. | to deal out (blows, lashes, etc) |
| [C16: from Latin inflīgere to strike (something) against, dash against, from flīgere to strike] | |
| in'flictable | |
| —adj | |
| in'flicter | |
| —n | |
| in'flictor | |
| —n | |
| in'fliction | |
| —n | |
| in'flictive | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
Insults flung in the heat of anger always inflict some pain.
The harm that criminals inflict upon society is significant and some of their victims are no longer alive to tell of it.
It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and--as it did here--inflict great pain.
As you can see, one needn't threaten or inflict harm on anyone in order to commit this felony.
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