afflict
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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afflictsimple
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afflictssimple
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have afflictedperfect
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has afflictedperfect
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am afflictingprogressive
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are afflictingprogressive
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is afflictingprogressive
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have been afflictingperfect progressive
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has been afflictingperfect progressive
Past
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afflictedsimple
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had afflictedperfect
-
was afflictingprogressive
-
were afflictingprogressive
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had been afflictingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of afflict
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English afflicten, from Latin afflīctus “distressed,” past participle of afflīgere “to cast down” ( af- af- + flīg- “knock” + -tus past participle suffix); replacing Middle English aflight, from Middle French aflit, from Latin; see inflict
Explanation
To afflict is to cause suffering, pain, or misery. It’s often associated with medical conditions. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is most likely to afflict someone who spends many hours every day typing on our computers. We get afflict from the Latin word affligere, meaning “to strike down,” which is an old fashioned way of saying to get sick, or to have a condition of some kind. You could argue that chronic indecision was the main problem to afflict Hamlet, or that saying "um," "like," and "you know" are speech tics that afflict teens.
Vocabulary lists containing afflict
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Migraine Revelations Afflict Michelle Bachmann’s Campaign, John Rennie argues this is not necessarilly a disqualifying thing for her if one understands migraines.
From Scientific American • Jul. 22, 2011
Alas, my friends, Why mourn you thus? let not a private loss Afflict your hearts.
From Cato A Tragedy, in Five Acts by Addison, Joseph
—How can you, lady, suffer this impertinent Afflict you thus?
From A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2 by Bullen, A. H. (Arthur Henry)
"Afflict you?" said I, at last; "I come to tell you what, now that I am here, I cannot tell——" There I stopped.
From Arthur Mervyn Or, Memoirs of the Year 1793 by Brown, Charles Brockden
Does her loved Ráma's exile so Afflict her with the fires of woe?”
From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Griffith, Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
