inflictive

Variant of inflict

transitive verb

  1. to give or cause (pain, wounds, etc.) by or as by striking; cause to be borne
  2. to impose (a punishment, disagreeable task, etc. on or upon)

Origin: < L inflictus, pp. of infligere, to strike or beat against < in-, on, against + fligere, to strike < IE base *bhlī-, to strike > Welsh blif, catapult

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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