afflict

American  

[uh-flikt] / əˈflɪkt /

verb (used with object)

1. to distress with mental or bodily pain; trouble greatly or grievously.

   to be afflicted with migraine headaches.

   Synonyms:

   plague, torment, harass, vex

2. Obsolete.

   1. to overthrow; defeat.

   2. to humble.

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afflict British  

/ əˈflɪkt /

verb

1. (tr) to cause suffering or unhappiness to; distress greatly

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Other Word Forms

• afflicter
  noun
• afflictive
  adjective
• overafflict
  verb (used with object)
• preafflict
  verb (used with object)
• self-afflicting
  adjective
• unafflicting
  adjective

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.

Example Sentences

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

Afflict, af-flikt′, v.t. to give continued pain, distress, or grief: to harass, or vex.—pa.p.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

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)

—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)

But thought of Bharat's523 pain and toil, And my dear spouse the giant's spoil, Afflict my tortured heart and press My spirit down with heaviness.

From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Griffith, Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin)

Related Words

• annoy
• beset
• bother
• burden
• oppress
• plague
• rack
• torment
• torture
• wound