Afflict', v. t.
Afflict', v. t. [imp. & p. p. AFFLICTED; p. pr. & vb. n. AFFLICTING.] [Lat. afflictare, to disquiet, trouble; afflictus, p. p. of affigere, to cast down, deject; ad and fligere, to strike; Fr. affliger. Cf. Eng. FLOG.]
Sense 1. To strike down; to overwhelm; to overthrow. “Reassembling our afflicted powers.” Milton.
Sense 2. To give pain which is continued or of some permanence; to cause to suffer dejection, grief, or distress. That which was the worst now least afflicts me. Milton.
Sense 3. To make low or humble. [Obs.] “The argument of mine afflicted style.” Spenser.
Men are apt to prefer a prosperous error before an afflicted truth. Ep. Taylor.
Synonyms—To trouble; grieve; pain; distress; harass; torment; wound; hurt.