AFFLICT

afflict, smite

(verb) cause physical pain or suffering in; “afflict with the plague”

afflict

(verb) cause great unhappiness for; distress; “she was afflicted by the death of her parents”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

afflict (third-person singular simple present afflicts, present participle afflicting, simple past and past participle afflicted)

(transitive) To cause (someone) pain, suffering or distress.

(obsolete) To strike or cast down; to overthrow.

(obsolete) To make low or humble.

Source: Wiktionary

Af*flict", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Afflicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Afflicting.] Etym: [L. afflictus, p. p. of affigere to cast down, deject; ad + fligere to strike: cf. OF. aflit, afflict, p. p. Cf. Flagellate.]

1. To strike or cast down; to overthrow. [Obs.] "Reassembling our afflicted powers." Milton.

2. To inflict some great injury or hurt upon, causing continued pain or mental distress; to trouble grievously; to torment. They did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. Exod. i. 11. That which was the worst now least afflicts me. Milton.

3. To make low or humble. [Obs.] Spenser. Men are apt to prefer a prosperous error before an afflicted truth. Jer. Taylor.

Syn.

– To trouble; grieve; pain; distress; harass; torment; wound; hurt.

Af*flict", p. p. & a. Etym: [L. afflictus, p. p.]

Definition: Afflicted. [Obs.] Becon.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition