afflict
/əˈflɪkt/ verb
Forms afflicts afflicting afflicted
- verb (transitive) To cause (someone) pain, suffering or distress.
- verb (obsolete) To strike or cast down; to overthrow; to result.
- verb (obsolete) To make low or humble.
Synonyms
torment torture smite ache aggrieve agonize anguish dere excruciate hurt irritate pang pine rack throe wring lacerate plague atray cag
Etymology
From Middle English afflicten (attested in past participle afflicte), from Latin afflīctō (“to damage, harass, torment”), from ad- + flīctus, past participle of afflīgō (“strike, beat”), from ad- + flīgō (“strike”) (whence af-).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To strike or cast down; to overthrow. [Obs.] "Reassembling our afflicted powers." Milton.
- verb To inflict some great injury or hurt upon, causing continued pain or mental distress; to trouble grievously; to torment.
- participle Afflicted. [Obs.] Becon.
Etymology [L. afflictus, p. p. of affigere to cast down, deject; ad + fligere to strike: cf. OF. aflit, afflict, p. p. Cf. Flagellate.]
Etymology [L. afflictus, p. p.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “afflict”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details