Definitions for afflict
əˈflɪktaf·flict

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. afflictverb

   cause great unhappiness for; distress

   "she was afflicted by the death of her parents"

2. afflict, smiteverb

   cause physical pain or suffering in

   "afflict with the plague"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. afflictverb

   To cause (someone) pain, suffering or distress.

2. Etymology: From aflicter, from afflictare, frequentative of affligere.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To AFFLICTverb

   Etymology: afflicto, afflictum, Lat.

   1. To put to pain; to grieve; to torment.

   In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you. Leviticus, xvi. 29.

   Give not over thy mind to heaviness, and afflict not thyself in thine own counsel. Ecclus, xxx. 21.

   For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as a God, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him, ceremonies and sacrifices. Wisdom.

   It teacheth us, how God thought fit to plague and afflict them, it doth not appoint in what form and manner we ought to punish the sin of idolatry in others. Richard Hooker, b. v. § 17.

   O coward conscience! how dost thou afflict me?
   The lights burn blue —— Is it not dead midnight?
   Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh. William Shakespeare, Richard III.

   A melancholy tear afflicts my eye,
   And my heart labours with a sudden sigh. Matthew Prior.

   2. The passive to be afflicted, has often at before the causal noun.

   The mother was so afflicted at the loss of a fine boy, who was her only son, that she died for grief of it. Joseph Addison, Spect.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. Afflictverb

   to strike or cast down; to overthrow

2. Afflictverb

   to inflict some great injury or hurt upon, causing continued pain or mental distress; to trouble grievously; to torment

3. Afflictverb

   to make low or humble

4. Afflict

   afflicted

5. Etymology: [L. afflictus, p. p.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Afflict

   af-flikt′, v.t. to give continued pain, distress, or grief: to harass, or vex.—pa.p. Afflict′ed, harassed by disease of body or mind: suffering.—adj. Afflict′ing, distressing.—n. Afflic′tion, state or cause of pain or distress: misery: loss of friends, sickness, persecution. &c.—adj. Afflict′ive, causing distress. [L. affligĕre, flictum—ad, to, fligĕre, to dash to the ground.]

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Afflict

   Inflict vs. Afflict -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Inflict and Afflict.

Matched Categories

1. • Upset

How to pronounce afflict?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say afflict in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of afflict in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of afflict in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of afflict in a Sentence

1. Ecclesiastes:

   Give not over thy soul to sorrow and afflict not thyself in thy own counsel. Gladness of heart is the life of man and the joyfulness of man is length of days.

2. Finley Peter Dunne:

   Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.

3. Cardinal Richelieu:

   War is one of the scourges with which it has pleased God to afflict men.

4. John Kenneth Galbraith, Guardian (London, 28 July 1989):

   In all life one should comfort the afflicted, but verily, also, one should afflict the comfortable, and especially when they are comfortably, contentedly, even happily wrong.

5. Aneurin Bevan:

   Now, the vicissitudes that afflict the individual have their source in society. It is this situation that has given currency to the phrase social forces. Personal relations have given way to impersonal ones. The Great Society has arrived and the task of our generation is to bring it under control. The study of how it is to be done is the function of politics.

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