af·flict

(ə-flĭkt′)

tr.v. af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts

To cause grievous physical or mental suffering to.

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

af·flict′er n.

af·flic′tive adj.

af·flic′tive·ly adv.

Synonyms: afflict, agonize, rack¹, torment, torture
These verbs mean to bring great harm or suffering to someone: afflicted with severe arthritis; agonized to see her suffering; racked with guilt; tormented by migraine headaches; tortured by painful memories.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

afflictively

(əˈflɪktɪvlɪ)

adv

in a distressing, troublesome, or afflictive manner

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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