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afflict

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The definition of afflict is to cause great physical or mental pain or agony or to create for someone a curse to bear.

(verb)

An example of something that can afflict a person is cancer.

See afflict in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to cause pain or suffering to; distress very much
Obsolete to overthrow

Origin: < L afflictare, to injure, vex < afflictus, pp. of affligere, to strike down < ad-, to + fligere: see inflict

See afflict in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts

To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English afflighten

Origin: , from afflight, disturbed, frightened

Origin: , from Latin afflictum

Origin: , past participle of afflīgere, to cast down

Origin: : ad-, ad-

Origin: + flīgere, to strike

Related Forms:

af·flictˈer noun

af·flicˈtive adjective

af·flicˈtive·ly adverb

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