afflict

[ uh-flikt ]
/ əˈflɪkt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR afflict ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to distress with mental or bodily pain; trouble greatly or grievously: to be afflicted with arthritis.
Obsolete.
  1. to overthrow; defeat.
  2. to humble.

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Origin of afflict

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

OTHER WORDS FROM afflict

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH afflict

afflict infect inflict

Words nearby afflict

affix, affixation, affixture, afflated, afflatus, afflict, afflicting, affliction, afflictive, affluence, affluency
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Content related to afflict

What’s the Difference Between “Afflict” vs. “Inflict”?Are you afflicted with a muddled mind when thinking about about difference between afflict and inflict? We don't blame you, and we're here to clear the air.
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Words related to afflict

annoy, torture, bother, wound, oppress, beset, torment, burden, plague, rack, crucify, smite, pester, pain, distress, agonize, lacerate, grieve, vex, try

Example sentences from the Web for afflict

British Dictionary definitions for afflict

afflict
/ (əˈflɪkt) /

verb

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

Derived forms of afflict

afflictive, adjective

Word Origin for afflict

C14: from Latin afflictus, past participle of afflīgere to knock against, from flīgere to knock, to strike
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012