afflict

[ uh-flikt ]
/ əˈflɪkt /

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.

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

SYNONYMS FOR afflict

1 vex, harass, torment, plague.

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

Words related to afflicting

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 afflicting

British Dictionary definitions for afflicting (1 of 2)

afflicting
/ (əˈflɪktɪŋ) /

adjective

deeply distressing; painful

British Dictionary definitions for afflicting (2 of 2)

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