afflict

verb

1. (transitive)To cause (someone) pain, suffering or distress.

   “Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.”

   “Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.”

   “[T]he wench was afflicted with religion and unapproachably austere.”

   “To me it seems that extensive investment in relatively low-powered units may have the same ultimate result of motive power shortage as that which afflicts the London Midland Region today, and which has compelled the re-engining of some of the earlier multiple-unit diesel train sets.”

   “While the defense lawyers have likened the condition to the post traumatic stress disorders afflicting war veterans and battered women, which have been used in other insanity defense cases, they have said that they know of no previous trials when a "black rage" defense has been raised.”

2. (obsolete)To strike or cast down; to overthrow; to result.

   “reassembling our afflicted powers”

3. (obsolete)To make low or humble.

   “The Argument of mine afflicted stile”

   “Men are apt to prefer a prosperous error before an afflicted truth.”