afflict

Pronunciation: /əˈflɪkt/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb cause great unhappiness for; distress
  2. verb cause physical pain or suffering in

Etymology

From Middle English afflicten (attested in past participle afflicte), from Latin afflictāre (“to damage, harass, torment”), frequentative of affligere (“to dash down, overthrow”). See also af-.

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
upset
Narrower (hyponyms)
grieve, tribulate, try

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