Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To cause grievous physical or mental suffering to.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To strike down; prostrate; overthrow; rout.
- To distress with mental or bodily pain; trouble greatly or grievously; harass or torment: as, to be afflicted with the gout, or by persecution.
- Synonyms Afflict, Distress, Trouble, Harass, Torment; try, pain, hurt, plague, persecute. Of these words, afflict implies the most spiritual effect, the greatest depth and continuance of sorrow. To distress is a more outward act, bringing one into straitness of circumstances or feeling, so that there is more anxiety for the future, while perhaps the afflicted person knows the full measure of his loss and is wholly occupied with the past. To trouble is a lighter act, involving perhaps confusion or uncertainty of mind, and especially embarrassment. Harass, as applied to mind or body, suggests the infliction of the weariness that comes from the continuance or repetition of trying experiences, so that there is not time for rest. Torment implies the infliction of acute pain, physical or mental, and is frequently used in the sense of
harassing by frequent return. The use of afflicted otherwise than of persons severally or collectively is highly figurative or poetic: as, my afflicted fortunes; the other words have freer figurative use. Seeaffliction . - Afflicted; distressed.
- noun Conflict; struggle.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- past participle obsolete Afflicted.
- transitive verb obsolete To strike or cast down; to overthrow.
- transitive verb To inflict some great injury or hurt upon, causing continued pain or mental distress; to trouble grievously; to torment.
- transitive verb obsolete To make low or humble.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive To cause (someone)
pain ,suffering ordistress .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb cause great unhappiness for; distress
- verb cause physical pain or suffering in
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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That he will not afflict, that is, that he will not afflict willingly; it is no pleasure to him to grieve the children of men, much less his own children.
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume III (Job to Song of Solomon) 1721
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Sundry marplots, such as afflict all public bodies did, indeed, start to their feet, but a universal cry of ` ` question '' drowned all their efforts, and Mr. Raymond's motion was carried, to all appearance unanimously.
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It took place in the bed-room, where, as usual save on Sunday morning, Ada consumed her strong tea and heavily buttered toast; the state of her health -- she had frequent ailments, more or less genuine, such as afflict the indolent and brainless type of woman -- made it necessary for her to repose till a late hour.
In the Year of Jubilee George Gissing 1880
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'afflict' Rose, but let her choose, and if I'm not entirely mistaken, she will like my rig best.
Eight Cousins Louisa May Alcott 1860
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At the same time, it meant “to afflict” or “to trouble.”
The English Is Coming! Leslie Dunton-Downer 2010
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At the same time, it meant “to afflict” or “to trouble.”
The English Is Coming! Leslie Dunton-Downer 2010
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Social relations in America may be eased by the fact that most Americans find God more likely to comfort than to afflict.
American Grace Robert D. Putnam 2010
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As the chart above shows, federal government spending is not subject to the wild swings that afflict investment, so it helps to stabilize GDP and jobs--if it is big enough.
L. Randall Wray: Budgetary Impasse: Is There an Alternative to Hoovernomics? L. Randall Wray 2011
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As the chart above shows, federal government spending is not subject to the wild swings that afflict investment, so it helps to stabilize GDP and jobs--if it is big enough.
L. Randall Wray: Budgetary Impasse: Is There an Alternative to Hoovernomics? L. Randall Wray 2011
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Restless legs syndrome is thought to afflict millions, though there's argument about just how many.
hernesheir commented on the word afflict
Railroad telegraph shorthand for "advise what can be done" --US Railway Assn. Standard Cipher Code, 1906.
January 19, 2013
ZoyaElflor commented on the word afflict
reoccurring dream that afflicts many city dwellers that involves the discovery of new, previously unearthed rooms in their apartments.
February 20, 2014
shanvrolijk commented on the word afflict
others say that the disgrace and ignominy with which God afflicts disbelievers and in which He leaves them to continue for a long time is tantamount to mockery (R).
The Study Quran
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=GVSzBgAAQBAJ&pg=GBS.PR4-IA51.w.6.0.32
March 2, 2018