afflict: [14] When it originally entered English, afflict meant ‘overthrow’, reflecting its origins in Latin afflīgere ‘throw down’, a compound verb formed from the prefix ad- ‘to’ and flīgere ‘strike’. English afflict comes either from the Latin past participle afflictus, from a new Latin verb formed from this, afflictāre, or perhaps from the now obsolete English adjective afflict, which was borrowed from Old French aflit and refashioned on the Latin model. The meaning ‘torment, distress’ developed in the early 16th century.
afflict (v.)
late 14c., "to cast down," from Old French aflicter, from Latin afflictare "to damage, harass, torment," frequentative of affligere (past participle afflictus) "to dash down, overthrow," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + fligere (past participle flictus) "to strike," from PIE root *bhlig- "to strike" (cognates: Greek phlibein "to press, crush," Czech blizna "scar," Welsh blif "catapult"). Transferred meaning of "trouble, distress," is first recorded 1530s. Related: Afflicted; afflicting.
实用例句
1. There are two main problems which afflict people with hearing impairments.
听力有障碍的人们主要受到两大问题的困扰。
来自柯林斯例句
2. They may grant you power, honour, and riches but afflict you with servitude, infamy, and poverty.
他们可以给你权力 、 荣誉和财富,但却用奴役 、 耻辱和贫穷来折磨你.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. Famine and war still afflict mankind.
饥饿和战争仍使人类遭受痛苦.
来自《简明英汉词典》
4. I wish you wouldn't afflict me with your constant complains.
我希望你不要总是抱怨而使我苦恼.
来自辞典例句
5. The same problem will surely afflict any future purchases in fashion.
