To cause pain, suffering, or distress to someone; to trouble or burden someone persistently.
From Latin afflictus, past participle of affligere (ad- 'to' + fligere 'to strike'). The root sense was physical striking, but by the Middle Ages it meant emotional or spiritual suffering. Entered English via Old French.
The root word fligere ('to strike') appears in English 'conflict' too—both describe being struck, but afflict emphasizes the ongoing pain while conflict emphasizes the clash itself.
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