The disease afflicts an estimated two million people every year.
the South was afflicted by a severe drought
Recent Examples on the WebShare [Findings] A fungal parasite that afflicts the reproductive organs of millipedes was named in honor of Twitter.—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024 The original game was lauded for its depiction of psychosis, a condition that afflicted its protagonist who was deemed cursed for her hallucinations and disconnect from reality.—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 21 May 2024 Yet the foreclosure might ultimately help reduce the maladies that afflict the ailing office sector — by taking a big building out of the inventory of vacant office space and converting it to housing.—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 20 May 2024 The disease that afflicted the Cash-Carter family is addiction.—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for afflict
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Word History
Etymology
Middle English afflihten "to excite, become distressed," probably verbal derivative of affliht, aflyght "disturbed, upset," borrowed from Latin afflīctus, past participle of afflīgere "to knock or strike down, ruin, distress severely," from ad-ad- + flīgere "to strike down" — more at profligate entry 1
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