| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
| |
| afflict |
| |
| SYLLABICATION: | af·flict |
| PRONUNCIATION: |   -fl kt |
| TRANSITIVE VERB: | Inflected forms: af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts
To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English afflighten, from afflight, disturbed, frightened, from Latin afflictum, past participle of affl gere, to cast down : ad-, ad- + flgere, to strike. | | OTHER FORMS: | af·flicter —NOUN
af·flictive —ADJECTIVE
af·flictive·ly —ADVERB
| | SYNONYMS: | afflict, agonize, rack1, torment, torture These verbs mean to bring great harm or suffering to someone: afflicted with arthritis; was agonized to see her suffering; racked with cancer; tormented by migraine headaches; tortured by painful memories.
| | |
| |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
|
|
