afflict

/ə-ˈflikt/

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"

verb

  1. to cause pain or suffering to : to distress so severely as to cause persistent suffering or anguish

  2. trouble, injure

  3. humble

people afflicted with arthritis

afflict try torment torture rack mean to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear. afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress. try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.