Afflict Definition

ə-flĭkt

afflicted, afflicting, afflicts

verb

afflicted, afflicting, afflicts

To cause grievous physical or mental suffering to.

American Heritage

To cause pain or suffering to; distress very much.

Webster's New World

To overthrow.

Webster's New World

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

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

YourDictionary

To cause (someone) pain, suffering or distress.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Afflict

Middle English afflighten from afflight disturbed, frightened from Latin afflīctum past participle of afflīgere to cast down ad- ad- flīgere to strike

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Old French aflicter, from Latin afflictare (“to damage, harass, torment”), frequentative of affligere (“to dash down, overthrow”).

From Wiktionary